Candlestick Base
Unknown Artist
late 13th–14th century
Medium
Brass; engraved and inlaid with silver
Dimensions
H. 6 9/16 in. (16.7 cm) Diam. 11 1/2 in. (29.2 cm) Wt. 35.7 oz. (1012.2 g)
Classification
Metal
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Edward C. Moore Collection, Bequest of Edward C. Moore, 1891
Accession Number
91.1.596
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite brass candlestick base, by an unknown artist in the 13th or 14th century, the pinnacle of Islamic metalworking from the Mamluk period in Egypt or Syria. Standing just over 6 inches tall with an 11.5-inch diameter, its substantial 35.7-ounce weight underscores its luxurious construction, designed to hold candles in elite households, mosques, or palaces. The surface features intricate engravings inlaid with silver—a technique known as damascening—that create shimmering contrasts, highlighting delicate motifs including human figures, a bold choice in Islamic art where such represen...