A MOSUL SILVER AND COPPER INLAID BRASS CANDLESTICK BASE

NORTHERN MESOPOTAMIA, EARLY 13TH CENTURY

Details

A MOSUL SILVER AND COPPER INLAID BRASS CANDLESTICK BASE
NORTHERN MESOPOTAMIA, EARLY 13TH CENTURY
Of cylindrical form tapering towards the rim, with pronounced bands at top and bottom, the main register decorated with a series of circular cartouches formed of two bands of interlacing strapwork and filled alternately with a geometric lattice and a scrolling arabesque, the interstices similarly filled with dense arabesque, above and below a band of elegant benedictory kufic against scrolling ground, a plaited band above and below, small remains of silver and copper inlay, formed into a lamp
8in. (21.1cm.) high

Provenance

UK private collection formed between 1945 and 1965.

Brought to you by

Andrew Butler-Wheelhouse

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Lot Essay

The inscriptions around the body of this candlestick are benedictory phrases in Arabic, not all deciphered.

Around the top is a commissioning inscription, mimma 'umila bi-rasm al-sayyid 'abd al-qadir bin al-sayyid umar al-qufa'i (?), 'What was made by order of the Sayyid 'Abd al-Qadir ibn al-Sayyid 'Umar al-Qufa'i (?)'.

There is another later inscription at the top which reads malik isma'in, 'Malik Isma'in.

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