20th May, 2026 11:00
Live Sale: Indian, Islamic, Himalayan and South-East Asian Art 2026
85
A KHORASAN SILVER INLAID BRONZE CANDLESTICK SECTION, PERSIA, CIRCA 13TH CENTURY
of slender tapered form, with ridge near the base, three tiers of silver inlaid arabic calligraphy interspersed with stylised floral medallions, mounted on stand, 48cm high
Inscriptions:
Lower: al-‘izz wa’l-iqbal wa’l-sa ad[a](?), ‘Glory and prosperity and happiness(?)”;
Middle: bi‘l-yumn wa’l-baraka wa’l-dawala wa’l …, ‘With bliss and blessing and turn of good fortune and …”
Top: al-‘izz wa’l-iqbal wa’l-dawala wa ‘l…‘Glory and prosperity and turn of good fortune and …'
This shaft is the upper part of the lamp, which fitted into the classic bell-shaped base. For a photograph of a similar Khorasan lamp, fully assembled, see Melikian 1982, fig.54. See also Ernst Grube & Eleanor Sims (eds.), Islamic Art II 1987, pl.VI, for a 14th century Shahnama folio in the Freer Gallery, with a painting showing a pair similar candlesticks alight.
of slender tapered form, with ridge near the base, three tiers of silver inlaid arabic calligraphy interspersed with stylised floral medallions, mounted on stand, 48cm high
Inscriptions:
Lower: al-‘izz wa’l-iqbal wa’l-sa ad[a](?), ‘Glory and prosperity and happiness(?)”;
Middle: bi‘l-yumn wa’l-baraka wa’l-dawala wa’l …, ‘With bliss and blessing and turn of good fortune and …”
Top: al-‘izz wa’l-iqbal wa’l-dawala wa ‘l…‘Glory and prosperity and turn of good fortune and …'
This shaft is the upper part of the lamp, which fitted into the classic bell-shaped base. For a photograph of a similar Khorasan lamp, fully assembled, see Melikian 1982, fig.54. See also Ernst Grube & Eleanor Sims (eds.), Islamic Art II 1987, pl.VI, for a 14th century Shahnama folio in the Freer Gallery, with a painting showing a pair similar candlesticks alight.
Auction: Live Sale: Indian, Islamic, Himalayan and South-East Asian Art 2026, 20th May, 2026
The sale includes the collection of Robert Skelton OBE, curator of Indian Art at the Victoria and Albert Museum. It comprises some exquisite 18th and 19th century Indian paintings and drawings as well as a fine group of modern Indian paintings with works by Shiavax Chavda (1914 - 1990), Francis Newton Souza (1924 - 2002), K Laxma Goud (B. 1940) and Jayashree Chakravarty (B. 1956). Tiles, Indian bronzes, thewa boxes, a silver gilt ewer, a ‘Koftgari’ pen box and a Mughal carved black jade dagger are also among the lots in this collection.
Also in the same sale is 10th -12th century Persian pottery, a monumental pair of 19th century doors, Persian and Syrian ceramics including tiles, also Iznic tiles from Ottoman Anatolia. Other lots include Indian bronze figures, small furniture, textiles and rugs.
Auction Location: London, UK
PUBLIC EXHIBITION
Sunday 17th May: 12pm to 4pm
Monday 18th May: 10am to 5:30pm
Tuesday 19th May: 10am to 5pm
Monday 18th May: 10am to 5:30pm
Tuesday 19th May: 10am to 5pm
CONTACT
indianandislamic@olympiaauctions.com + 44 (0)20 7806 5545
Viewing
PUBLIC EXHIBITION:
Sunday 17th May: 12pm to 4pm
Monday 18th May: 10am to 5:30pm
Tuesday 19th May: 10am to 5pm
CONTACT
indianandislamic@olympiaauctions.com + 44 (0)20 7806 5545
