<em>Mosque Lamp</em>, 13th-14th century. Colorless glass; blue, green, red, yellow, and white enamels; and gold; free blown, applied, enameled, and gilded; tooled on the pontil, includes base, now detached: 12 x 8 in. (30.5 x 20.3 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Bequest of William H. Herriman, 21.484. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 21.484_PS11.jpg)

Mosque Lamp, 13th-14th century. Colorless glass; blue, green, red, yellow, and white enamels; and gold; free blown, applied, enameled, and gilded; tooled on the pontil, includes base, now detached: 12 x 8 in. (30.5 x 20.3 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Bequest of William H. Herriman, 21.484. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 21.484_PS11.jpg)

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Mosque Lamp

Arts of the Islamic World

On View: Arts of the Islamic World, 2nd floor

Enameled glass lamps like this hung from a mosque ceiling on chains. The illuminated glow of the lamp symbolized divine light and, by extension, the presence of God. The Mamluk period in Egypt and Syria produced some of the finest examples of such lamps, which were commissioned to illuminate the interiors of Mamluk mosques and charitable foundations. This is the most characteristic type, with a flared neck, a rounded body with six handles, and a wide foot. It is one of the few Mamluk mosque lamps, however, with its wick still intact.

MEDIUM Colorless glass; blue, green, red, yellow, and white enamels; and gold; free blown, applied, enameled, and gilded; tooled on the pontil

GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATIONS

Possible place made: Syria
Possible place made: Egypt

DATES 13th-14th century

DYNASTY Mamluk

PERIOD Mamluk Period

DIMENSIONS includes base, now detached: 12 x 8 in. (30.5 x 20.3 cm) without base, now detached: 9 1/2 x 8 in. (24.1 x 20.3 cm) base (now detached): 2 1/2 x 4 in. (6.4 x 10.2 cm) mount: 9 1/2 × 8 × 8 in. (24.1 × 20.3 × 20.3 cm) (show scale)

INSCRIPTIONS In Arabic in thuluth script, "العالم / "al-`aalim" / "the wise," repeated around body three times.

COLLECTIONS Arts of the Islamic World

ACCESSION NUMBER 21.484

CREDIT LINE Bequest of William H. Herriman

PROVENANCE Prior to 1918, provenance not yet documented; by 1918, acquired by William H. Herriman of Rome, Italy; 1921, bequest of William H. Herriman to the Brooklyn Museum.

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EXHIBITIONS

Arts of the Islamic World

MUSEUM LOCATION This item is on view in Arts of the Islamic World, 2nd floor

CAPTION Mosque Lamp, 13th-14th century. Colorless glass; blue, green, red, yellow, and white enamels; and gold; free blown, applied, enameled, and gilded; tooled on the pontil, includes base, now detached: 12 x 8 in. (30.5 x 20.3 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Bequest of William H. Herriman, 21.484. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 21.484_PS11.jpg)

IMAGE overall, 21.484_PS11.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2022

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RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY

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