Publication Date
694 AH / 1294 AD
Publication Place
-
Museum of Islamic Art
Subject
Copper plated with gold and silver.
Type
Other
Language
Undetermined
Digital
Yes
Manuscript
No
Physical Dimensions
الارتفاع: 14 سم ؛ قطر الفوهة: 8.5 سم.
Library
Museum With No Frontiers
Library Asset ID
4463
Record ID
object;ISL;eg;Mus01;10;ar
Library Location
Museum of Islamic Art
Date
694 AH / 1294 AD
Notes
Wrapped around the lower part of the neck of the candlestick is writing characterized by strangeness and vitality, as most of the letters took human shapes depicting warriors carrying swords, spears, and shields, while some letters took the shape of bird heads. As for the text of the inscription, it reads, “For the prince, he wrote solace, survival, and victory over the enemies.” It is clear that the maker of the piece offers condolences to Katbugha, and wishes him survival and victory over the enemies who participated in the killing of Sultan Al-Ashraf Khalil bin Qalawun. It seems that Al-Saani exaggerated the ambiguity of this writing in order to avoid the enemies that might befall him if circumstances changed. Around the neck of the candlestick from the top appears an inscription in Mamluk third script that reads: “From what was made in the form of a basin that was betrayed by the high headquarters of Mawlawi al-Zayni Zain al-Din Katbugha al-Mansouri al-Ashrafi.” This text is cut into three bowls with a geometric decoration lined with gold. The writings on this piece reflect some aspects of political and social life in the Mamluk era, and breathe life into the sayings of historians. In late 1293 AD, a number of Mamluk princes, led by Piedra, the deputy of the Sultanate, conspired to kill Sultan Al-Ashraf Khalil bin Qalawun while he was returning from a hunting trip so that Piedra would assume power. Some Mamluks rejected this situation, led by Prince Kutbugha, who was able to take revenge on those who killed the Sultan, so they killed Prince Piedra and his aides and paraded their bodies through the streets of Cairo, according to the narration of the historian Al-Maqrizi. The princes agreed that the nine-year-old brother of Sultan Al-Ashraf Khalil, Muhammad bin Qalawun, would assume power. Prince Katbugha took charge of the Sultanate's behalf and managed the affairs of the country. All of these events were reflected in the inscriptions and decorations of the Katbugha candlestick, the neck of which the museum owns only, while the body of this candlestick is in the Walter Art Gallery, which it purchased in 1925 AD.
Sample Text
Salah Sayour "Neck of a Candlestick" in Discover Islamic Art. Museum Without Borders, 2026. https://islamicart.museumwnf.org/database_item.php?id=object;ISL;eg;Mus01;10;ar
