ANTIQUITIES AND ISLAMIC ART SALE

A MONUMENTAL SELJUK STYLE SILVER AND COPPER INLAID CANDLESTICK, 19TH CENTURY

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Start price: £3,800

Estimated price: £4,000 - £6,000

Buyer's premium:

Description

A magnificent and imposing Seljuk-style candlestick, dating to the 19th century, crafted from cast brass and richly inlaid with silver and copper. This architectural form features a wide, polygonal base rising into a tiered, cylindrical neck and a shallow, slightly flaring mouth.


The body is elaborately adorned with an interlocking pattern of hexagonal and lozenge-shaped panels, each filled with intricate arabesques, vegetal scrolls, and calligraphic roundels. These inlays are executed with great skill and precision, showcasing the enduring influence of Seljuk metalwork aesthetics on later Islamic decorative arts. The geometric regularity of the surface, combined with deep chiseling and inlay work, evokes a turtle-shell or honeycomb effect—emphasising texture and volume.

The neck and rim are equally ornate, featuring dense bands of Kufic and cursive inscriptions inlaid in silver, likely benedictory or poetic verses. The underside and interior also show careful attention to detail, with the hammered and patinated metal bearing a rich surface character from age and use.

H: 43cm, Diameter: 40cm