A FINE LARGE SAFAVID BRASS TORCHSTAND of very slightly tapering cylindrical form with spreading foot and flaring mouth, the main body carved with a lattice of lozenge panels each with scrolling floral arabesques on a cross-hatched surface, a band of meandering leafy vine above and below, the foot with three further similar bands of vine, each slightly larger than the one above, also with an added owner's inscription in the name of Dervish Muhammad b. Shaykh Wais Mumarnadi, the upper section with a raised band below containing a waqf inscription in the name of Ala al-Din Husayn b. Musa al-Reza..., the upper section itself with two bands of meandering flowering vine around a band of cross-hatched cartouches containing a nasta'liq inscription, later applied mount for a handle on one side, 16th century (very slight repair to base)

Details

A FINE LARGE SAFAVID BRASS TORCHSTAND of very slightly tapering cylindrical form with spreading foot and flaring mouth, the main body carved with a lattice of lozenge panels each with scrolling floral arabesques on a cross-hatched surface, a band of meandering leafy vine above and below, the foot with three further similar bands of vine, each slightly larger than the one above, also with an added owner's inscription in the name of Dervish Muhammad b. Shaykh Wais Mumarnadi, the upper section with a raised band below containing a waqf inscription in the name of Ala al-Din Husayn b. Musa al-Reza..., the upper section itself with two bands of meandering flowering vine around a band of cross-hatched cartouches containing a nasta'liq inscription, later applied mount for a handle on one side, 16th century (very slight repair to base)
15¼in. (38.8cm.) high

Provenance

Joseph V. McMullan. Sold by his wife to the present owner.

Lot Essay

The inscription on the raised band below the mouth translates: Given in waqf by Muhammad Ja'far b. Mirza Sharaf al-Hadi to the blessed shrine of Sayyid 'Ala al-Din Husayn b. Musa al-Riza

An almost identical torchstand, but with slightly smaller lozenges in the main band of decoration is in a private Swiss collection (Treasures of Islam, exhibition catalogue, Genva 1985, no.300, p.290)

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