PROBABLY ITALY OR FRANCE, SECOND HALF 19TH CENTURY

Details

A MAMLUK-STYLE ENAMELLED AND GILDED CLEAR GLASS MOSQUE LAMP
Probably Italy or France, second half 19th Century
Of typical form with angled rounded body rising to a high flaring conical mouth on short foot, three applied double loop handles around the body, the body with a blue band of scrolling vine around a stylised naskh inscription, a band of polychrome and gilt alternating triangular panels above, a band of scrolling gilt vine issuing polychrome flowerheads and alternating with polychrome arabesque interlace roundels below, the mouth also with a band of stylised calligraphy on a blue ground between a lower narrow dense floral band and upper broad band of similar design to the underside of the body, the pointil mark under the foot showing as a five-petalled flower, (gilding rubbed)
105/8 in. (27 cm.) high

Provenance

As lot 1.
Rothschild inv. no. P.48 and E.de R.535(?).

Special notice

VAT rate of 5% is payable on hammer price plus buyer's premium.

Lot Essay

While the individual letters of the inscriptions are legible, their combination makes no sense. This factor differentiates this lamp from the three offered in lots 11, 12 and 14, all of which have perfectly legible inscriptions copied presumably from genuine examples. The pointil mark on the underside of the foot in the form of a five-pointed rosette is something not encountered on other lamps, but which might well provide a clue as to the manufacturer. Apart from these small points, and the unusually elongated and flaring neck, this lamp has mastered the technical aspects of the manufacturing of these difficult lamps remarkably well.

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