NORTH EAST IRAN, DATED SHAWWAL AH 599 JUNE - JULY 1203 AD

Details

A KHORASSAN SILVER INLAID BRONZE CANDLESTICK
NORTH EAST IRAN, DATED SHAWWAL AH 599 JUNE - JULY 1203 AD
Of octagonal faceted truncated conical form with pronounced flat cusped shoulder and short tubular neck below the rounded mouth, each of the eight sides inlaid in silver with a drop-shaped panel of scrolling arabesques, the shoulder inlaid with a band of foliated kufic divided by rosettes, the candlestick otherwise plain, areas of green and light red patination, slight old restorations
10¾in. (17.3cm.) high

Special notice

No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 15% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis.

Lot Essay

The inscription around the shoulder reads:
baraka li-sahibihi Muhammad b. 'Abd al-Khayr(?) b. Abu Zayd b. Khalaf al-Tajir al-Maraghi dama 'azzahu bi-tarikh shawwal sana tis'a wa tis'in wa khamsa mi'a (blessing to its owner Muhammad son of 'Abd al-Khayr son of Abu Zayd son of Khalaf, the Maraghi merchant, may his glory be eternal, in [the month of] shawwal, the year five hundred and ninety nine.

A number of Khorassan candlesticks are known made with variants on this polygonal form. One was sold in these Rooms 15 October 2002, lot 199. The present example is unusual in the simplicity of its decoration.

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