Candlestick with Enthronement Scene
Unknown Artist
second quarter 13th century
Medium
Brass; engraved, incised, inlaid with silver
Dimensions
H. 9 9/16 in. (24.4 cm) Diam. 14 1/2 in. (36.8 cm)
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
91.1.563
Art Historical Context
This elegant brass candlestick, crafted in the second quarter of the 13th century, hails from the Islamic world and exemplifies the exquisite metalwork of the medieval period. Standing just under 10 inches tall with a broad 14½-inch diameter base, it served both a practical purpose—holding candles for illumination in mosques, palaces, or—and as a canvas for storytelling. The surface features an enthronement scene, likely depicting a ruler or dignitary seated in majesty, surrounded by attendants, a motif symbolizing authority and courtly life. Artisans employed sophisticated techniques: engrav...