Candlestick

Artist Unknown

CultureEgypt

Dateca.1320-1340

MediumBrass with gold and silver inlay

Dimensions9 11/16 × 8 7/16 in. (24.6 × 21.5 cm)

InscribedThe inscription around the drum, or body, reads (translated from Arabic): “The High Authority, the Lordly, the Great Amir, / the Just, the Holy Warrior, the Possessor of Wealth, the [officer of] al-Malik al-Nasir.” A similar inscription runs around the drip tray: “The High Authority, the Lordly, the Great Amir, the Holy / Warrior, the Defender, the Protector of Frontiers, the One helped [by God], the [Officer of] al-Malik al-Nasir.” Another inscription around the socket continues: “The High Authority, / the Lordly, the Great Amir, the Learned / the [Officer of] al-Malik al-Nasir.”

Credit LineMuseum purchase

Object number2023.14

On View

Chrysler Museum of Art, Gallery 201

DescriptionThis is a cone-shaped brass candlestick with low relief Arabic script around the drum, on the drip tray and around the socket, and inlay decoration in gold and silver.The inscription around the drum, or body, reads (translated from Arabic): “The High Authority, the Lordly, the Great Amir, / the Just, the Holy Warrior, the Possessor of Wealth, the [officer of] al-Malik al-Nasir.” A similar inscription runs around the drip tray: “The High Authority, the Lordly, the Great Amir, the Holy / Warrior, the Defender, the Protector of Frontiers, the One helped [by God], the [Officer of] al-Malik al-Nasir.” Another inscription around the socket continues: “The High Authority, / the Lordly, the Great Amir, the Learned / the [Officer of] al-Malik al-Nasir.”
ProvenancePrivate collection, Switzerland, between ca. 1980 and 2004 to Private collection, Switzerland to Christie’s, 25 April 2013, lot 89 to Sam Fogg Gallery to CMA (2023) Exhibition HistoryExhibited in Treasures of Islam, Geneva, 1985, no. 288.Published ReferencesToby Falk, ed., Treasures of Islam, exh. cat. (Geneva, 1985), no. 288, p. 278.