Publication Date
746-7/ 1346-7
Publication Place
-
Royal Museum, National Museum of Scotland NMS
Subject
Gilded glass inlaid with enamel.
Type
Other
Language
Undetermined
Digital
Yes
Manuscript
No
Physical Dimensions
الارتفاع: 38.10 سم؛ القطر: 26.04 سم
Library
Museum With No Frontiers
Library Asset ID
A.1900.154
Record ID
object;ISL;uk;Mus03;15;ar
Library Location
Royal Museum, National Museum of Scotland NMS
Date
746-7/ 1346-7
Notes
A mosque lamp made of gilded glass and inlaid with enamel. It has a neck that expands towards the opening, a low spherical body, a sloping shoulder, and a long leg that ends with a flat base. Six loops are installed around the shoulder at regular intervals. The lamp bears a dense decoration of enamel on the neck, body and base, and is decorated with gilding. On the neck is a large Qur’anic inscription in third script executed in blue enamel, with its main lines in red. The writing is interrupted by three circular ornaments that include the fleur-de-lis emblem in red on a white background. At the base of the neck appears a finely drawn band interrupted by pointed floral decorative frames. At the top of the lamp's shoulder appears a narrow band with pointed floral medallions, while the main part of the body bears a wide written band, painted on a blue background, and is interrupted by lozenges that hold the suspension rings. The lower part of the body bears more circular ornaments that include the fleur-de-lis. And other floral details. As for the leg, half of which has been replaced by a modern piece, it bears five horizontal bands filled with abstract scrolls that alternate linearly with densely drawn details. The horizontal lines are interrupted by three lozenge-shaped medallions bearing abstract floral patterns. The lamp dates back to the year 674-7 / 6134-7, during the short reign of King Muzaffar Hajji. It is interesting that the donor, Najm al-Din Muhammad ibn Ali ibn Shirwan, did not, contrary to custom, begin his career as a slave. It is known that he arrived in Cairo in 737/1337 after having been a vizier in Baghdad, and the fleur-de-lis was an emblem. him. Najm al-Din's lamp is of particular interest because it may be the first example to bear the fleur-de-lis used as an officer's emblem, an item previously restricted to sultans.
Sample Text
Ulrike Al-Khamis “Mosque Lamp” in Discover Islamic Art. Museum Without Borders, 2026. https://islamicart.museumwnf.org/database_item.php?id=object;ISL;uk;Mus03;15;ar
