This footed lamp is made of greyish colourless glass, decorated with red, white and blue enamels. It has a flared base and a slightly less flaring neck. The inscriptions and blazons on it can be related to Shibl al-Daula Kafur al-Rumi, who was the treasurer of the Mamluk Sultan of Egypt, al-Salih Isma’il (1342-1345). It was probably ordered to form part of the decorative lighting for a building commissioned by Kafur al-Rumi on behalf of this ruler.
Physical description
Footed lamp of greyish colorless glass decorated with red, white, blue enamels. Flared base and less flared neck. Inscriptions and blazon of Shibl al-Daula Kafur al-Rumi, treasurer to the Mamluk Sultan al-Salih Isma`il (1342-45)
Place of Origin
Egypt (possibly, made)
Syria (possibly, made)
Date
1342-1345 (made)
Artist/maker
Unknown (production)
Materials and Techniques
Glass, gilded and enamelled
Marks and inscriptions
Inscriptions and blazon of Shibl al-Daula Kafur al-Rumi, treasurer to the Mamluk Sultan al-Salih Isma'il (1342-45)
Dimensions
Height: 26 cm, Width: 17 cm maximum
Object history note
Ordered for a building commissioned by Kafur al-Rumi, Treasurer to the Mamluk Sultan of Egypt al-Salih Ismail (1342-45).
Descriptive line
Lamp with inscriptions naming the Mamluk official Kafur al-Rumi, Egypt, 1342-5.
Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)
Lamm (1930; 200:2), Wiet (1929;p.164,no.51), Mayer (Saracenic Heraldry; p.135)
Tim Stanley, Palace and Mosque: Islamic Art from the Middle East, London, V&A Publications, 2004; pp. 24, 45, 49, 52, plate 59
Exhibition History
Palace and Mosque: Islamic Art from the Victoria and Albert Museum (The Millennium Galleries, Sheffield 14/01/2006-16/04/2006)
Palace and Mosque: Islamic Art from the Victoria and Albert Museum (Setagaya Art Museum, Tokyo 01/10/2005-04/12/2005)
Palace and Mosque: Islamic Art from the Victoria and Albert Museum (Kimbell Art Museum, Fort Worth, Texas 03/04/2005-04/09/2005)
Palace and Mosque: Islamic Art from the Victoria and Albert Museum (National Gallery of Art, Washington 18/07/2004-06/02/2005)
Labels and date
Two Glass Lamps
Egypt or Syria
Around 1250 and 1342-5
The lamp on the left is decorated with three mounted falconers. The presence of human figures indicates that it was made for a domestic setting. The lamp on the right has no figures. It was probably commissioned for a religious institution by a Mamluk official called Kafur al-Rumi, who is named in the inscriptions.
Enamelled and gilded glass
Museum nos. 330-1900; 6820-1860 [Jameel Gallery]
Production Note
date: 'probably'
Materials
Enamel; Glass; Gilt
Techniques
Painting; Gilding; Firing
Subjects depicted
Geometric patterns
Categories
Islam; Glass; Lighting
Collection code
MES
