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The first candlestick is
made of brass in laid with silver. Its history prior to its
acquisition
by the museum is
unknown.
The candlestick is
polygonal, having fourteen sides. Three techniques were used in it
decoration: The first is
repoussee work represented by arches, columns and other motifs,
the second is engraving
and the third is inlaying. These latter two includes representations of
vegetal and script elements.
The lower part of the
candlestick is decorated with two bands: the lower one is a plaited
band inlaid with silver
while the upper one is a band filled with pointed arches filled with
repoussee work motifs.
The middle part of the
candlestick body is decorated with arcades with pointed arches
resting on column in repoussee. The space between arcades is occupied by an
inscription written in Thuluth script and is inlaid with silver. This script indicates that
it
was made for Urtuq
Arslan, son of Ilghazi, who ruled in Mardin between 594-634 A.H.
(1201-1239 A.D.), and
that it was passed to his successor Ghazi, presambly on Urtuq
Arslan's death.
The upper section of the
candlestick is also decorated with pointed arches filled with
vegetal decoration.
The second candlestick
was brought by to the museum from the Ibrahimi Mosque in
Hebron. It is made of
brass inlaid with silver.
The candlestick is
round. In terms of its decoration, it can be divided into three
parts.
The lower part is
covered with three bands separated by plain lines. The bands are
filled
with a plaited motif,
foliated scrolls and chevron motifs.
The upper part is
similar in decoration to the lower one, with the difference that
this part is
covered with two bands
instead of one and there is no plaited band on it.
The middle part of the
body is fully covered with decoration. It bears a large Mamluk
Naskhi inscription
against a back ground heavily covered with interlaced scrollwork
filled
with vegetal leaves. The
drip tray of the candlestick is also covered with decorative
elements Mamluk Naskhi
inscription.
The decorative elements
covering this candlestick are very similar to the decorative
motifs covering a tray
from Egypt.
The style and shape of
the inscription are indicates that the go back to the region of
Sultan, al-Malik al-Nasir
Muhammad, the younger son of Qalawun who ruled Egypt in
693-694; 698-708;
709-741 A.H. (1294-1295; 1299-1309; 1310-1340 A.D.).
The third candlestick
was also brought from Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron.
This candle has features
similar to those in the previous one. It is made of brass once
inlaid with silver. The
body is round, with decoration based on inscriptions and vegetal
designs. The decoration
can be divided into three parts.
The lower part is
decorated with three bands separated by lines. The lower band is
composed of an
egg-and-dart motif repeated all around the candlestick. The middle
and
upper band are of
foliated scrolls ended with half leaves and a chevron motif.
The middle part is
decorated with a large Mamluk Naskhi inscription against a background heavily
covered with interlaced scrollwork filled with vegetal leaves.
The decoration covering
this candlestick can be seen decorating two other candlesticks
in the name of Sultan
Muhammed Ibn Qalawun in the Islamic Museum of Art in Cairo. The
whorl motif, the
egg-and-dart band, the foliated scroll band and the style and shapes
of
script are to be seen on
all three objects.
The designs covering
this candlestick appear to be similar to those ornamenting the
preceding candlestick.
According to Weit, it is in the name of Sultan Muhammad Ibn
Qalawun.
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