Safavid Era / Early 17 Th Cty, Brass Richly Chiseled Torchstand
ISLAMIC ART
Safavid Period (1502-1722), early 17th century
Brass torch holder richly engraved with elaborate interlacing of stylized plant motifs and complex ornamental designs on a finely hatched darker background.
This column chandelier (Persian: mash‘al, literally 'candlestick-pillar') is typical of Western Persian metalwork made during the reign of ʿAbbās I (1588-1629), the 5th Shah of Safavid Iran. The distinctive shape of these chandeliers, coming from 15th-century Timurid chandeliers, is made up of 3 distinct sections clearly separated by raised rings:
* The upper part, perfectly in line with the stem, is decorated with two similar friezes of stylized vine leaves (islāmī motif) forming successive and intertwined scrolls.
The rim of the mouth carries an inscription in Arabic, which is obviously read from right to left: « بركة كاملة » (Baraka kāmila). The translation could be: "Perfect blessing" or "Complete blessing." These words are a very common votive inscription on metal items, pottery, and artworks from the medieval Islamic period (like the Fatimid or Mamluk eras). It was meant to bring luck and express good wishes for prosperity to the owner of the item. It very often forms part of a longer phrase like "Perfect blessing and universal grace" (بركة كاملة ونعمة شاملة).
* The central shaft is slightly tapered and beveled with 12 facets.
* The flared base is decorated in 3 consistent sections with the same ornamental patterns as the rest of the candelabrum: plant motifs, interlacing flowers forming 2 types of alternating cartouches on the widest frieze.
The candle holder has an old repair that blends perfectly with the overall aesthetic of the candlestick, both on the back and on the visible part of the holder. There is a slight crack extending along the heel that accentuates the candlestick.
This heel also bears an Arabic inscription that reads تاج (Tāj), which means "Crown." The word is written in Arabic cursive (Thuluth or flowing Naskh style), where the letters always connect from right to left. This new engraved inscription is also apocryphal, perhaps suggesting a prestigious, noble, or royal purpose.
Dimensions:
27 cm in height
nd 17 cm in diameter at the base (9 cm at the neck).
Although the surface decoration of Safavid metals owes a lot to older Timurid styles (c. 1375-1500), the shape of this large cylindrical candlestick is a Safavid invention. Candlesticks of this size were commonly used in religious settings like mosques or shrines. Even though these objects were functional, the technical skill and refined aesthetics of Persian goldsmiths turned the most utilitarian items into true works of art.
The decorative style of our Safavid torch holder is similar to the art of Persian illuminated manuscripts as well as the carpets from that time, and so it fits perfectly within the overall aesthetic of the decorative arts of that period.
Similar pieces are now kept in major institutions like the Victoria and Albert Museum in London or the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.
Safavid Period (1502-1722), early 17th century
Brass torch holder richly engraved with elaborate interlacing of stylized plant motifs and complex ornamental designs on a finely hatched darker background.
This column chandelier (Persian: mash‘al, literally 'candlestick-pillar') is typical of Western Persian metalwork made during the reign of ʿAbbās I (1588-1629), the 5th Shah of Safavid Iran. The distinctive shape of these chandeliers, coming from 15th-century Timurid chandeliers, is made up of 3 distinct sections clearly separated by raised rings:
* The upper part, perfectly in line with the stem, is decorated with two similar friezes of stylized vine leaves (islāmī motif) forming successive and intertwined scrolls.
The rim of the mouth carries an inscription in Arabic, which is obviously read from right to left: « بركة كاملة » (Baraka kāmila). The translation could be: "Perfect blessing" or "Complete blessing." These words are a very common votive inscription on metal items, pottery, and artworks from the medieval Islamic period (like the Fatimid or Mamluk eras). It was meant to bring luck and express good wishes for prosperity to the owner of the item. It very often forms part of a longer phrase like "Perfect blessing and universal grace" (بركة كاملة ونعمة شاملة).
* The central shaft is slightly tapered and beveled with 12 facets.
* The flared base is decorated in 3 consistent sections with the same ornamental patterns as the rest of the candelabrum: plant motifs, interlacing flowers forming 2 types of alternating cartouches on the widest frieze.
The candle holder has an old repair that blends perfectly with the overall aesthetic of the candlestick, both on the back and on the visible part of the holder. There is a slight crack extending along the heel that accentuates the candlestick.
This heel also bears an Arabic inscription that reads تاج (Tāj), which means "Crown." The word is written in Arabic cursive (Thuluth or flowing Naskh style), where the letters always connect from right to left. This new engraved inscription is also apocryphal, perhaps suggesting a prestigious, noble, or royal purpose.
Dimensions:
27 cm in height
nd 17 cm in diameter at the base (9 cm at the neck).
Although the surface decoration of Safavid metals owes a lot to older Timurid styles (c. 1375-1500), the shape of this large cylindrical candlestick is a Safavid invention. Candlesticks of this size were commonly used in religious settings like mosques or shrines. Even though these objects were functional, the technical skill and refined aesthetics of Persian goldsmiths turned the most utilitarian items into true works of art.
The decorative style of our Safavid torch holder is similar to the art of Persian illuminated manuscripts as well as the carpets from that time, and so it fits perfectly within the overall aesthetic of the decorative arts of that period.
Similar pieces are now kept in major institutions like the Victoria and Albert Museum in London or the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.
1 300 €
Period: 17th century
Style: Orientalism
Condition: En l'etat
Material: Brass
Diameter: 17 cm
Height: 27 cm
Reference (ID): 1843576
Availability: In stock
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