SULTAN AL GHURI

The form of this octagonal multi-tiered chandelier with suspended ornamental drip tray was inspired by two large 14th-century (8th-century AH) Mamluki tananir found in Cairo. One tannour, taken from the Mosque of Sultan Kansuh Al Ghuri, is on display in the Islamic Museum. The other hangs in the Mosque of Al Nasir Muhammad in the Citadel.

The ornamental design of the prototypes was completely transformed by the artist, who used various traditional sources to create a chandelier for the office of Queen Noor of Jordan The chandelier shown here was commissioned for a private home in Egypt.

The main body forms an octagonal truncated pyramid, which is a magnification of the smaller Mamluki polygonal thurayya. The truncated pyramid is set between two octagonal polycandelon trays with pierced cylindrical qandil holders. The base tray is 80 cm in diameter. The eight side panels connected to the tray, which surround the base of the chandelier, are fabricated from sheet brass 14.5 cm wide and 1.2 mm thick. They are pierced with openwork calligraphy and crested with trefoil crenelations. The inscription is of the Muslim Declaration of Faith: "There is no god but Allah; Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah."

The upper tray is 60 cm in diameter and contains sixteen cylindrical qandil holders. The underside of the tray is perforated and contains thirty-three cylindrical qandil holders.

The body of the chandelier is divided into five levels by four etched and pierced balconies.

A border of etched scrollwork surrounds every ornamental section. The panels of the five levels are richly ornamented with etched geometric and floral arabesques and calligraphic inscriptions.

The globe is connected to a globular finial divided by a small pierced tray, which ends in an open crescent. A hollow cylindrical shaft runs through the crescent to contain electrical wiring and a steel suspension rod, which runs through the entire chandelier and connects to a wrought-iron interior fram attached to the base.

Four gilded steel chains attached to the base suspend the ornamental drip tray, which is 100 cm in diameter. The underside of the tray is covered with elaborate floral engraving interrupted by spun knops set around the tray in two concentric circles. Repousse roundels with a central fluted rosette of twenty-four petals radiate from a spun domical centerpiece.

Made by special order. LMAM-14