GULSHANI

The design for this chandelier is a recreation of a 14th-century (8th-century AH) thurayya originally found in the Al Gulshani Sufi monastery (tekkiya) in Cairo, now on display in the city's Islamic Museum. The prototype consisted of two parts: an engraved and pierced dome, inscribed with glorifications of Sultan Muhammad ibn Qalawoon and Sultan Sha'aban, and a flat pierced polycandelon with cylindrical holders for blown glass qanadil. The polycandelon was suspended from the dome by three chains. Another almost identical chandelier is also on display at the Islamic Museum in Cairo (see Sultan Qalawoon).

While the form of the present lamp follows that of the original prototype, the artist has magnified the dimensions. The prototype measures 36 cm in height and 37 cm in diameter. The present chandelier is 57 cm in height and 45 cm in diameter with cylinders for nine glass qanadil.

The dome is engraved and perforated. The central band contains four medallions on a background of interlace. Two medallions contain arabesques and two contain an inscription from the Holy Qur'an that reads: "And We have made it beautiful for the beholders and protected it from every rejected devil."

The central band is bordered by an alternating pattern of interlace and vegetal motifs separated by rosettes within rhomb-shaped medallions. The lower border of the dome consists of a trefoil pattern. The circular base of the dome is perforated and engraved with a repeating pattern of the Name of God, "Allah."

The top of the dome consists of interlacing trefoil in sixteen sections inspired by the design of a 15th-century Mamluki copper tray. The dome is surmounted by an engraved and perforated globular finial to which a chain is attached, extending to a domical device suspended from the ceiling. Three chains are attached to this small domical piece and pass through the lower rim of the dome to suspend the polycandelon. Gulshani is designed to allow for the polycandelon to either be suspended at a distance from the dome or fitted into the dome opening to form a single unit.

LMAM-34