Publication Date
In the period 872-901 / 68-1496
Publication Place
-
Victoria and Albert Museum
Subject
Engraved brass and inlaid with silver and gold.
Type
Other
Language
Undetermined
Digital
Yes
Manuscript
No
Physical Dimensions
الارتفاع: 163 سم؛ القطر: 74 سم
Library
Museum With No Frontiers
Library Asset ID
109–1888
Record ID
object;ISL;uk;Mus02;12;ar
Library Location
Victoria and Albert Museum
Date
In the period 872-901 / 68-1496
Notes
A large lamp holder made of yellow brass, with a hexagon-shaped base that rises to the top and narrows until reaching a superstructure that used to hold a dome, which is now lost, and to which suspension chains were attached. The lower part of the structure held several glass oil lamps that were accessible through a door on one of the six sides. The sides have been perforated to allow the light of the lamps to pass through, and they have also been engraved and inlaid with designs with inscription medallions glorifying Sultan Qaytbay among the floral decorations. At the bottom of the stand appears a wide inscription collar that is repeated in smaller letters parallel to the top, and mentions, “Glory be to our Lord, the Sultan, King Al-Ashraf, the Sultan of Islam and the Muslims, the restorer of justice in the worlds, the suppressor of the immoral and the rebels, the Sultan of the Arabs and the Persians, the King of Bahrain, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, the Master of Kings and Sultans, the Commander of the Faithful, Abu Al-Nasr Qaitbay, may God Almighty immortalize his kingdom.” The decorations are unlikely to be visible when the lamp holder is hung in the mosque, but they are nonetheless indicative of the quality of art during Qaytbay's period.
Sample Text
Barry Wood “Lamp Holder” in Discover Islamic Art. Museum Without Borders, 2026. https://islamicart.museumwnf.org/database_item.php?id=object;ISL;uk;Mus02;12;ar
