{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O76909"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O76909/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AF6907/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AF6907/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AF6907","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O76909/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O76909","accessionNumber":"333-1892","objectType":"Candlestick","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"This fine 12-sided candlestick has a complex shape. It was probably inspired by a candlestick made of silver, which is easier to work than brass. The socket for the candle is a miniature version of the base, which has a central boss on each of its 12 sides. These are matched by the 12 roundels on the drip-tray.\r\n\r\nIn Islamic art, objects made from base materials were often transformed by sophisticated forms of decoration. Brassware, like this piece, was often decorated with inlaid surface ornament.\r\n\r\nFor larger motifs, metalworkers chiselled out small areas of brass and filled them with thin sheets of silver, gold and copper. They added details by chasing the surface of the softer metals and contrast by using a black filler. \r\n\r\nThe inlay technique first became popular in eastern Iran in the mid 12th century. It then spread westwards and by 1250 was in use across the Middle East. Its popularity declined after 1500. This candlestick was made when the technique was at its peak.","physicalDescription":"Worked sheet brass candlestick (sham dan) with engraved decoration and silver inlay, with the conventional blessings to an early owner, 'Khwaja Raihan'.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"brass","id":"AAT10946"},{"text":"silver","id":"AAT11029"}],"techniques":[{"text":"hammered","id":"AAT54098"},{"text":"engraved","id":"AAT53829"},{"text":"inlaid","id":"AAT53850"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Hammered brass, engraved and inlaid with silver and black composition; detail incised over silver foil after inlaying","categories":[{"text":"Islam","id":"THES48932"},{"text":"Lighting","id":"THES48925"},{"text":"Metalwork","id":"THES48920"}],"styles":[{"text":"Iranian","id":"x35873"}],"collectionCode":{"text":"MES","id":"THES48607"},"images":["2006AF6907"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"42 (VA)","id":"THES49806"},"free":"","case":"2E","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Candlestick","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Iran","id":"x30220"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":"western"}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"ca. 1220-1240","earliest":"1215-01-01","latest":"1240-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"23.8","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Diameter","value":"27.6","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"minimum, base","note":""},{"dimension":"Diameter","value":"28.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"maximum, base","note":""},{"dimension":"Diameter","value":"22.2","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"minimum, shoulder","note":""},{"dimension":"Diameter","value":"22.4","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"maximum, shoulder","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"Persian","medium":"","method":"engraved","position":"inscription on the shoulder is 'undeciphered'.","script":"Kufic","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Persian; Kufic; inscription on the shoulder is 'undeciphered'.; engraved"},{"content":"","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"the inscription on the upper everted section of the body is 'undeciphered'.","script":"kufic","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"kufic; the inscription on the upper everted section of the body is 'undeciphered'."},{"content":"","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":""},{"content":"","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"upper inscription on the flat rim","script":"naskhi","translation":"Lasting might, helping destiny, A-L, joyous life, God's blessings in ternity, rising luck, sweeping victory, ascending luck, immune life, divine support, wide authority, might, lasting life, A, to its owner!","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"naskhi; upper inscription on the flat rim"},{"content":"","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"the base","script":"naskhi","translation":"Lasting might, growing, lasting, kneeling (?!)...success, joyous life, integral eternal divine blessings, rising luck, sweeping victory, A, ascending luck, divine support (?), immune life, A, authority, great [great] authority [sic]. A-L Lasting might, growing joyous [sic] success, eternal divine blessings, rising luck, sweeping victory, ascending luck, divine sup[port], (?)","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"naskhi; the base"},{"content":"","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"An inscription incised later by a non-professional scribe.","script":"","translation":"Kh aje Reyhan, 'Master Reyhan'","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"An inscription incised later by a non-professional scribe."}],"objectHistory":"Purcahsed for £25 from Zadig Eskenazi, 356 Grande Rue De Pera, Constantinople (Istanbul), 24 March 1892.\n\nHistorical significance: The Victoria and Albert twelve-facted candlestick is among the earliest Western specimens on record.","historicalContext":"Apparently the object was reserved for the special use of one Reyhan living in a community - at a court, or in a religious circle.","briefDescription":"Brass candlestick with twelve sides, western Iran, 1220-40.","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Melikian-Chirvani, A.S. <u>Islamic Metalwork from the Iranian World,</u> London:HMSO, 1982, p166-169, ISBN 0 11 290252 9"},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Baer, E. 'The Nisan Tasi', fig. 15, p.17, and mentioned as an example 'from about 1200'."}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"CANDLESTICK\r\nWorked sheet brass, with engraved decoration and silver inlay\r\nWestern Persia; 13th century\r\nThe inscriptions consist of conventional blessings, sometimes in abreviated and garbled form; the name of an early owner of the piece is given: \"Khwaja Raihan\".","date":{"text":"Used until c. 1982","earliest":null,"latest":"1982-12-31"}},{"text":"CANDLESTICK\r\nBrass, raised and decorated with engraved champleve designs partly inlaid with silver, the ground filled with black composition.\r\nWESTERN IRAN; 13th century.\r\n[Museum no. given incorrectly as 333-1882]","date":{"text":"Used c. 1982 to 11/2003","earliest":"1982-01-01","latest":"2003-11-30"}},{"text":"Jameel Gallery \r\n\r\nCandlestick with Twelve Sides\r\nWestern Iran\r\n1220-40\r\n\r\nThe complex shape was probably inspired by a candlestick made of silver, which is easier to work than brass. The socket for the candle is a miniature version of the base, which has a central boss on each of its 12 sides. These are matched by the 12 roundels on the drip-tray.\r\n\r\nBrass inlaid with silver and a black composition\r\n\r\nMuseum no. 333-1892","date":{"text":"Jameel Gallery","earliest":"2006-07-20","latest":null}}],"partNumbers":["333-1892"],"accessionNumberNum":"333","accessionNumberPrefix":"","accessionYear":1892,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":["2017KA6278","2019LP5289","2019LP4629","2019LW5545"],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-12","recordCreationDate":"2003-03-18","availableToBook":false}}