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Mosque lamp: C.4-1949

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Object information

Current Location: Gallery 33

Titles

Mosque lamp

Maker(s)

Glassmaker: Unknown (Probably)

Entities

Categories

Description

Clear bubbly glass with a brownish tinge, free blown, with applied lugs, enamelled in blue, red, white and black. Depressed globular body with six clear lugs for suspension on the sloping shoulder, flaring neck, and low circular foot. Decorated on the upper part of the neck in nashki script with a passage from the Qur'an, Sura XXIV, 35, the Sura of Light, broken by three circular medallions containing a red cup. Around the lower part of the neck is a band of red scrolling foliage brokenby upright plant motifs. The shoulders are decorated in larger script reserved in foliage outlined in red in a blue ground: 'By the order of the most noble authority, the Exhalted, the Lordly, the Masterful, holder of the sword, Shaykhu al-Nasiri'. The lower part of the body is decorated with three medallions containing cups alternating with three medallions containing blue foliage. The spaces between are occupied by flowers.

Notes

History note: Linant Pasha; purchased from him by Rostowitz Bey, Cairo, by whom given to John M. Cook; inherited by his son, Frank H. Cook; inherited by his wife, Mrs Frank H. Cook

Legal notes

Given by the National Art Collections Fund to commemorate the Centenary of the opening of the Fitzwilliam.

Measurements and weight

Height: 35.3 cm

Place(s) associated

  • Cairo ⪼ Egypt
  • Damascus ⪼ Syria

Acquisition and important dates

Method of acquisition: Given (1949-12) by National Art Collections Fund

Dating

14th Century, Mid#
Mamluk
Production date: circa AD 1355 : The inscription indicates that it was made to the order of the Emir Shaykhu, probably for the mosque or mausoleum he built in Cairo between 1349 and 1356. He was assassinated in 1357.

School or Style

Mamluk

People, subjects and objects depicted

Components of the work

Decoration composed of enamels ( blue, red, white, and black)
Foot Diameter 13.8 cm
Rim Diameter 27.3 cm
Body Including Lugs Diameter 30.93 cm
Body

Materials used in production

Glass

Inscription or legends present

Inscription present: in nashki script

  • Text: inscription from the Qur'an, Sura XXIV, 35
  • Location: Around neck
  • Method of creation: Painted in enamels
  • Type: Inscription

Inscription present: in nashki script

  • Text: arabic inscription: By the order of the most noble authority, the Exhalted, the Lordly, the Masterful, holder of the sword, Shaykhu al-Nasiri
  • Location: Around the body
  • Method of creation: Painted in enamels
  • Type: Inscription

References and bibliographic entries

Related exhibitions

Identification numbers

Accession number: C.4-1949
Primary reference Number: 28044
Stable URI

Audit data

Created: Saturday 6 August 2011 Updated: Monday 18 December 2023 Last processed: Monday 18 December 2023

Associated departments & institutions

Owner or interested party: The Fitzwilliam Museum
Associated department: Applied Arts

Citation for print

This record can be cited in the Harvard Bibliographic style using the text below:

The Fitzwilliam Museum (2024) "Mosque lamp" Web page available at: https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/28044 Accessed: 2024-04-20 13:49:54

Citation for Wikipedia

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{{cite web|url=https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/28044 |title=Mosque lamp |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2024-04-20 13:49:54|publisher=The University of Cambridge}}

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https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/api/v1/objects/object-28044

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