A lamp such as this might have burned in the Holy Land during the lifetime of Christ. A metaphor for joy and prosperity, for hope, for life itself, lamps have illuminated the  More »

A lamp such as this might have burned in the Holy Land during the lifetime of Christ. A metaphor for joy and prosperity, for hope, for life itself, lamps have illuminated the path of civilization for centuries. They have shed light on mundane and extraordinary events alike, guiding great thoughts through the night, and standing vigil with lonely passions. In the presence of this simple object, we are in touch directly with a vanished world, with the rooms and shrines once warmed by its glow, with the people who drew comfort from its light. Today it remains as an enduring symbol of man's desire to conquer the darkness. - (PF.1775)   « Less

Copper Alloy Oil Lamp - LO.916, Origin: Central Asia, Circa: 800 AD to 1000 AD, Dimensions: 8.75" (22.2cm) high x 7.50" (19.1cm) wide, Collection: Islamic Art, Style:,  More »

Copper Alloy Oil Lamp - LO.916, Origin: Central Asia, Circa: 800 AD to 1000 AD, Dimensions: 8.75" (22.2cm) high x 7.50" (19.1cm) wide, Collection: Islamic Art, Style:, Islamic, Medium: Quarternary Bronze.   « Less

A lamp such as this might have burned in the Holy Land during the lifetime of Christ. A metaphor for joy and prosperity, for hope, for life itself, lamps have illuminated the  More »

A lamp such as this might have burned in the Holy Land during the lifetime of Christ. A metaphor for joy and prosperity, for hope, for life itself, lamps have illuminated the path of civilization for centuries. They have shed light on mundane and extraordinary events alike, guiding great thoughts through the night, and standing vigil with lonely passions. In the presence of this simple object, we are in touch directly with a vanished world, with the rooms and shrines once warmed by its glow, with the people who drew comfort from its light. Today it remains as an enduring symbol of man's desire to conquer the darkness. - (PF.1777)   « Less

A lamp such as this might have burned in the Holy Land during the lifetime of Christ. A metaphor for joy and prosperity, for hope, for life itself, lamps have illuminated the  More »

A lamp such as this might have burned in the Holy Land during the lifetime of Christ. A metaphor for joy and prosperity, for hope, for life itself, lamps have illuminated the path of civilization for centuries. They have shed light on mundane and extraordinary events alike, guiding great thoughts through the night, and standing vigil with lonely passions. In the presence of this simple object, we are in touch directly with a vanished world, with the rooms and shrines once warmed by its glow, with the people who drew comfort from its light. Today it remains as an enduring symbol of man's desire to conquer the darkness. - (PF.1786)   « Less

Islamic Glass Perfume Sprinkler - LO.922, Origin: Eastern Mediterranean, Circa: 700 AD to 900 AD, Dimensions: 4.25" (10.8cm) high, Collection: Islamic Art, Style:,  More »

Islamic Glass Perfume Sprinkler - LO.922, Origin: Eastern Mediterranean, Circa: 700 AD to 900 AD, Dimensions: 4.25" (10.8cm) high, Collection: Islamic Art, Style:, Blown/Applied Decoration, Medium: Glass, Pale green glass bottle of globular body with raised foot with scalloped splayed base and thin cylindrical neck leading to a flower-like mouth. Applied trails of the same colour and undulating bands of glass at the neck. The glass translucent and featuring extensive weathering.   « Less

A lamp such as this might have burned in the Holy Land during the lifetime of Christ. A metaphor for joy and prosperity, for hope, for life itself, lamps have illuminated the  More »

A lamp such as this might have burned in the Holy Land during the lifetime of Christ. A metaphor for joy and prosperity, for hope, for life itself, lamps have illuminated the path of civilization for centuries. They have guided great thoughts through the night and stood vigil with lonely passions. In the presence of this simple object, we are in touch directly with a vanished world, with the homes and temples once warmed by its glow, with the people who drew comfort from its light. Today it remains as an enduring symbol of man's desire to conquer the darkness. - (PF.1772)   « Less

In Jerusalem centuries ago, during the reign of the Herods, some person unknown to us but very real was warmed by the glow from this simple lamp. In its presence, the barrier  More »

In Jerusalem centuries ago, during the reign of the Herods, some person unknown to us but very real was warmed by the glow from this simple lamp. In its presence, the barrier of time dissolves and we are in direct touch with that ancient evening. An enduring token of man’s desire to bring light to the darkness. - (P.2542)   « Less

Seljuk Bronze Oil Lamp - SP.567, Origin: Central Asia, Circa: 11 th Century AD to 12 th Century AD, Dimensions: 8" (20.3cm) high, Collection: Islamic Art, Style: Seljuk,  More »

Seljuk Bronze Oil Lamp - SP.567, Origin: Central Asia, Circa: 11 th Century AD to 12 th Century AD, Dimensions: 8" (20.3cm) high, Collection: Islamic Art, Style: Seljuk, Medium: Bronze, The oil lamp has a flattened globular body, the top part is pierced with intricate floral decoration. It has a long spout with a small mouth, a double ring handle with a cylindrical thumb piece, and a pierced hinged lid. The body of the lamp stands on a highly stylized leaf - shaped foot.   « Less

Islamic Terraotta Tea Pot - SP.594, Origin: Jericho, Circa: 800 AD to 1100 AD, Dimensions: 7" (17.8cm) high, Collection: Islamic Art, Style: Early Islamic, Medium:,  More »

Islamic Terraotta Tea Pot - SP.594, Origin: Jericho, Circa: 800 AD to 1100 AD, Dimensions: 7" (17.8cm) high, Collection: Islamic Art, Style: Early Islamic, Medium:, Terracotta, Condition: Extra Fine.   « Less

Glazed Incense Burner in the Shape of a Lion - DC.1857 (LSO), Origin: Syria (Raqqa), Circa: 900 AD to 1200 AD, Collection: Islamic Art, Style: Raqqa, Medium: Glazed,  More »

Glazed Incense Burner in the Shape of a Lion - DC.1857 (LSO), Origin: Syria (Raqqa), Circa: 900 AD to 1200 AD, Collection: Islamic Art, Style: Raqqa, Medium: Glazed, Earthenware, Condition: Repaired, This impressive lion comes from the Raqqa area of Syria, which is most famously associated with the Abbasid caliph, Harun al-Rashid. The town became an important Islamic stronghold in 639 when 'Iy-- ibn Ghanm took the Christian city Kallinikos and renamed it ar-Raqqah. It became important as a religious centre; many associates of the Prophet Muhammad used to live there. It was much fought over during the transition between the Umayyad and Abbasid regimes, due to its position between Syria and Iraq and on the road network that ran throughout the Levantine area. Ar-Raqqah and ar-R?fiqah merged into one urban complex that became the official home for caliph Harun al-Rashid in 796. He was a cultured and enlightened man, under whose tolerant direction the populace achieved numerous literary and other cultural plaudits that made it the most important city in the area, even more so than Damascus. Subsequent caliphates were less successful, however, and it fell into decline in the late 9th century following civil unrest in the area. The city enjoyed a renaissance under the Ayyubids and Zangids in the 12th and 13th centuries, due primarily to artistic and industrial production, on the back of refined agricultural methods. Of all achievements, it is perhaps the blue “Raqqa ware” that was its crowning cultural triumph; it is believed to have risen to its greatest standard under the patronage of al- Malik al-Ashraf Musa (1201-1229), and there was some export of these delicate and extraordinarily decorative wares. This brief flowering was abruptly halted when the town was destroyed in the Mongol wars (c.1265) and the remaining inhabitants massacred in 1288. While some potters appear to have escaped to Damascus after the first sacking of the city, their subsequent work is far inferior to that of the original Euphrates kilns. For this reason, Raqqa ceramics are amongst the rarest and most valuable in the Islamic world.   « Less