Lamp, parcel-gilt silver, embossed, engraved, and chased
Turkey or the Balkans; 2nd half of 16th century
H:11.5; Diam at rim: 6.1 cm
Inventory number 11/1991
This lamp was originally a jug of the same type as the silver jug, inv.no. 15/1986.
Its decoration is distinctive because of its richness of detail and motifs: mythical creatures and wild animals, including a monkey and an elephant, as well as birds, some of which bite themselves in the leg. On the body of the jug, all this decoration is embedded in a loose arabesque network.
These animal motifs are not part of the customary repertoire of Ottoman art. They are presumably part of the traditional imagery in the Balkans, where skilled silversmiths worked for the Ottomans. The motifs found on silver were also a source of inspiration for potters in Iznik.
Its decoration is distinctive because of its richness of detail and motifs: mythical creatures and wild animals, including a monkey and an elephant, as well as birds, some of which bite themselves in the leg. On the body of the jug, all this decoration is embedded in a loose arabesque network.
These animal motifs are not part of the customary repertoire of Ottoman art. They are presumably part of the traditional imagery in the Balkans, where skilled silversmiths worked for the Ottomans. The motifs found on silver were also a source of inspiration for potters in Iznik.
Published in
Published in
Christie's, London, 9/10-1990, lot 124;
Kjeld von Folsach: Fabelvæsner fra Islams Verden, Davids Samling, København 1991, cat.no. 43;
Kjeld von Folsach, Torben Lundbæk and Peder Mortensen (eds.): Sultan, Shah and Great Mughal: the history and culture of the Islamic world, The National Museum, Copenhagen 1996, cat.no. 393;
Kjeld von Folsach: Art from the World of Islam in The David Collection, Copenhagen 2001, cat.no. 532;
Kjeld von Folsach: Fabelvæsner fra Islams Verden, Davids Samling, København 1991, cat.no. 43;
Kjeld von Folsach, Torben Lundbæk and Peder Mortensen (eds.): Sultan, Shah and Great Mughal: the history and culture of the Islamic world, The National Museum, Copenhagen 1996, cat.no. 393;
Kjeld von Folsach: Art from the World of Islam in The David Collection, Copenhagen 2001, cat.no. 532;
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