Handblown Mosque Glass Lamp with Gilded with Arabic Calligraphy in the style of Mameluke, 1880s

Handblown Mosque glass oil lamp in Mameluke style gilded with Arabic Cursive Calligraphy Middle Eastern Mosque lamp in the Islamic tradition, Moorish style etched blown clear glass with gilded calligraphic inscriptions. Dimensions: 35 cm high and25 cm diameter These were used as oil lamps. Large round bulbous body rising to a narrower waist, above which the top section is flared. There is no foot so it can be placed on a surface, but they were normally used suspended by chains that went through the three loops on the outside of the body. They were used to light middle eastern mosques and other buildings in mosque complexes, in large spaces in groups hanging from a circular metal frame. Glass mosque lamps with were mainly made during the Mamluk period in Egypt,Sirya. They were made on commission and were presented by Mamluk sultans as gifts to Cairo mosques. The lamp was made by blowing hot glass into shape and then leaving it to cool. The gilding were then painted on. The blown glass would have been decorated with gilt using fine brushes. This fabulous item could be used as a vase or decorative item in any modern or Moorish style decor.