Fragment of a mosque lamp, colorless glass, decorated with polychrome enamel and gilded
The various Mamluk sultans and emirs demonstrated their wealth and religiosity by commissioning religious buildings in Cairo and Damascus. These buildings were graced with oil lamps with colorful decorations and inscriptions in enamel and gold.
In many cases, the inscriptions gave the name of the patron, whose identity could also be revealed in the emblems on the lamps. This is not true of this lamp, whose patron is unknown. The inscription was taken from the “throne verse” in Koran’s sura 2, which deals with the omnipotence of God. The decoration is of a very high quality, indicating that the lamp must have come from an important building.
In many cases, the inscriptions gave the name of the patron, whose identity could also be revealed in the emblems on the lamps. This is not true of this lamp, whose patron is unknown. The inscription was taken from the “throne verse” in Koran’s sura 2, which deals with the omnipotence of God. The decoration is of a very high quality, indicating that the lamp must have come from an important building.