Enameled glass lamps like this hung from a mosque ceiling on chains. The illuminated glow of the lamp symbolized divine light and, by extension, the presence of God. The Mamluk period in Egypt and Syria produced some of the finest examples of such lamps, which were commissioned to illuminate the interiors of Mamluk mosques and charitable foundations. This is the most characteristic type, with a flared neck, a rounded body with six handles, and a wide foot. It is one of the few Mamluk mosque lamps, however, with its wick still intact.
- Medium: Colorless glass; blue, green, red, and white enamels; and gold; free blown, applied, enameled, and gilded; tooled on the pontil
- Dates: 13th-14th century
- Dynasty: Mamluk
- Period: Mamluk Period
- Dimensions: height x diameter of mouth: 7 1/16 x 6 15/16 in. (18 x 17.6 cm) base (diameter of base): 4 1/8 in. (10.4 cm) (show scale)
- Inscriptions: In Arabic in thuluth script, "al-`aalim" / "the wise," repeated around body three times. See Rich Text Inscription for Arabic text.
- Collections:Arts of the Islamic World
- Museum Location: This item is not on view
- Accession Number: 21.484
- Credit Line: Bequest of William H. Herriman
- Rights Statement: Creative Commons-BY
- Caption: Mosque Lamp, 13th-14th century. Colorless glass; blue, green, red, and white enamels; and gold; free blown, applied, enameled, and gilded; tooled on the pontil, height x diameter of mouth: 7 1/16 x 6 15/16 in. (18 x 17.6 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Bequest of William H. Herriman, 21.484. Creative Commons-BY
- Record Completeness: Good (66%)