Candlestick
ca. 1220-1240 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
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This fine 12-sided candlestick has a complex shape. It was probably inspired by a candlestick made of silver, which is easier to work than brass. The socket for the candle is a miniature version of the base, which has a central boss on each of its 12 sides. These are matched by the 12 roundels on the drip-tray.
In Islamic art, objects made from base materials were often transformed by sophisticated forms of decoration. Brassware, like this piece, was often decorated with inlaid surface ornament.
For larger motifs, metalworkers chiselled out small areas of brass and filled them with thin sheets of silver, gold and copper. They added details by chasing the surface of the softer metals and contrast by using a black filler.
The inlay technique first became popular in eastern Iran in the mid 12th century. It then spread westwards and by 1250 was in use across the Middle East. Its popularity declined after 1500. This candlestick was made when the technique was at its peak.
In Islamic art, objects made from base materials were often transformed by sophisticated forms of decoration. Brassware, like this piece, was often decorated with inlaid surface ornament.
For larger motifs, metalworkers chiselled out small areas of brass and filled them with thin sheets of silver, gold and copper. They added details by chasing the surface of the softer metals and contrast by using a black filler.
The inlay technique first became popular in eastern Iran in the mid 12th century. It then spread westwards and by 1250 was in use across the Middle East. Its popularity declined after 1500. This candlestick was made when the technique was at its peak.
Object details
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| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Hammered brass, engraved and inlaid with silver and black composition; detail incised over silver foil after inlaying |
| Brief description | Brass candlestick with twelve sides, western Iran, 1220-40. |
| Physical description | Worked sheet brass candlestick (sham dan) with engraved decoration and silver inlay, with the conventional blessings to an early owner, 'Khwaja Raihan'. |
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| Gallery label |
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| Object history | Purcahsed for £25 from Zadig Eskenazi, 356 Grande Rue De Pera, Constantinople (Istanbul), 24 March 1892. Historical significance: The Victoria and Albert twelve-facted candlestick is among the earliest Western specimens on record. |
| Historical context | Apparently the object was reserved for the special use of one Reyhan living in a community - at a court, or in a religious circle. |
| Summary | This fine 12-sided candlestick has a complex shape. It was probably inspired by a candlestick made of silver, which is easier to work than brass. The socket for the candle is a miniature version of the base, which has a central boss on each of its 12 sides. These are matched by the 12 roundels on the drip-tray. In Islamic art, objects made from base materials were often transformed by sophisticated forms of decoration. Brassware, like this piece, was often decorated with inlaid surface ornament. For larger motifs, metalworkers chiselled out small areas of brass and filled them with thin sheets of silver, gold and copper. They added details by chasing the surface of the softer metals and contrast by using a black filler. The inlay technique first became popular in eastern Iran in the mid 12th century. It then spread westwards and by 1250 was in use across the Middle East. Its popularity declined after 1500. This candlestick was made when the technique was at its peak. |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | 333-1892 |
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| Record created | March 18, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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