Name of Object:Mosque lamp Location:Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom Holding Museum:National Museums of Scotland (NMS) About National Museums of Scotland (NMS), Edinburgh Date of Object:Hegira 746–7 / AD 1346–7 Museum Inventory Number:A.1900.154 Material(s) / Technique(s):Enamelled glass and gilt. Dimensions:Height 38.10 cm, diameter 26.04 cm Period / Dynasty:Mamluk Provenance:Syria; made for export to Egypt. Description:An enameled glass and gilt mosque lamp with a wide flaring mouth and a squat globular body, a steeply sloping shoulder and flattened base. The body rests on a tall pedestal foot. Six applied loop handles are placed around the shoulder at regular intervals. The lamp holds extensive enamelled decoration on the mouth, body and foot, enhanced by gilding; the mouth having a large Qur’anic inscription in thuluth script executed in blue enamel and outlined in red. The inscription is interrupted by three roundels containing a fleur-de-lys blazon in red against a white background. The base of the mouth shows a delicately drawn scroll-band interrupted by cusped floral cartouches. View Short DescriptionGlass mosque lamps with enamelled decoration were commissioned in large numbers by the Mamluk elite in Egypt and Syria. Decorated with Qur’anic inscriptions and the titles of the patron, they were destined for the numerous mosques and madrasas endowed by the Mamluks throughout Cairo and the empire. Original Owner:Najm al-Din Mahmud ibn Ali ibn Shirwin How date and origin were established:The lamp was commissioned by an officer of al-Malik al-Muzaffar Hajji, who reigned for less than two years between 746–47 / 1346–7. How Object was obtained:Purchased by the NMS from the Major W. J. Myers Collection in 1900. How provenance was established:Mamluk mosque lamps of this type are generally ascribed to Syria, where they were made for export to Mamluk Egypt. Selected bibliography:Carboni, S., Glass from Islamic Lands, London, 2001 (for discussion on related mosque lamps and Mamluk glass). Citation of this web page:Ulrike Al-Khamis "Mosque lamp" in Discover Islamic Art, Museum With No Frontiers, 2024. https://islamicart.museumwnf.org/database_item.php?id=object;ISL;uk;Mus03;15;en Prepared by: Ulrike Al-Khamis
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