IRAN, SECOND HALF 16TH CENTURY

細節

A SAFAVID ENGRAVED BRASS TORCH STAND
Iran, second half 16th century
Of slightly tapering cylindrical form on spreading foot, the central register bounded by slightly raised bands comprising a central band of lozenges each engraved with interlaced arabesques on a cross-hatched ground, fluted zigzag and engraved arabesque interlace bands above and below, the mouth with a band of nasta'liq inscription cartouches between meandering vine bands, similar engraved floral bands around the foot, the sides with applied loop handles, the associated reversible cover either with open cylindrical drum engraved with inscriptions forming a torch, or inverted with domed cover engraved with interlaced arabesques rising to two entwined dragons, their heads rising as two candle sockets, excellent condition
24in. (61cm.) high

展覽

Kestner Museum, Hannover, circa 1990 until 2002

注意事項

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拍品專文

The inscriptions around the top of the stand are two couplets from a ghazal of Hafiz. The verses around the lid are Persian verses attributed to Ahli Turshizi. While the Hafiz inscription appears to be a rare verse on such a piece, the Ahli Turshizi verse also appears on a torch stand in the Victoria and Albert Museum (Melikian-Chirvani, A. S.: Islamic Metalwork from the Iranian World, London, 1982, no.148, p.327), and on one in a private Swiss Collection (Treasures of Islam, exhibition catalogue, Geneva, 1985, no.298, p.288).

The design of this torchstand is typical of the period around 1580. Melikian-Chirvani notes that a new style seems to have appeared by 1578 and 1579, the dates engraved on two torch stands in the Metropolitan Museum of Art and in the Hermitage, which contrast shaped grooving with panels of decoration, as is seen here (op,cit., p.264). The unusual feature here is that it has retained its upper section, an achievement which very few have managed, and even rarer, that the upper section terminates in the paired dragons more usually associated with candlesticks with flaring drum bases.