ALHAMBRA

This chandelier is based upon a 14th-century bronze thurayya from the Alcala de Henares in Andalusian Spain (probably originally in the Alhambra Mosque in Grenada), which is on display at the National Archaeological Museum in Madrid. The prototype was pierced and incised with elaborate floral openwork and calligraphy in the Andalusian Thuluth style. The base plate would have been fitted with a glass oil holder (qandil).

According to its inscription the original lamp was fabricated in the month of Rabi'al Awwal in the year 705 AH (1305 AD) for the Nasrid Sultan Muhammad III (1302-9). The original inscription contained praises of the Prophet Muhammad and an extended glorification of the ruler.

The lamp shown here is fabricated in brass with a truncated conical body of five curved panels set within two trays forming the base and top of the cone. One of the five panels forms a hinged door. The tray rims have been spun into a concave shape with pierced edging in reticulated half-circles. The base tray has been etched and pierced with floral designs and includes a central hole for a single blown glass qandil. In one version of the lantern the qandil is carried by five etched and pierced ornamental brackets, which join to form an inverted triangle. The second version is without brackets.

The top of the lamp is a hexagonal pyramid with floral openwork. This is connected to a cylindrical pipe through which electrical wiring can be installed. The pipe is connected to a suspension hook. Three spun decorative globes, pierced with floral patters, have been soldered at intervals to the pipe, set between six spun knops.

The openwork has been entirely redesigned using Moroccan floral arabesques inspired by ornamental gypsum work found at Settnia in Marrakech. The design is etched and pierced. The calligraphy is in Kufi style. The central inscription is the Name of God, "Allah."

The lower band of inscription reads: "Allah: He is Allah; there is no god but He."

LMAM-38