Base de chandelier au nom de ‘Ala’ al-Din ‘Ali (m.1350), fils de Balban al-Badri

A mamluk silver-inlaid brass candlestick base, in the name of ‘Ala’ al-Din ‘Ali ibn Balban al-Badri (d. 1350), Syria, 1st half of 14th century. Syria, Mamluk, First half 14th century Made from hammered copper sheet gilded with brass and inlaid with silver, the body is adorned with a large writing band in "thuluth" divided into two sections by two circles decorated with lotus flowers, on a background of fine floral scrolls. Condition: patchy silver inlays. Old restoration of the tray, and cracks, bobèche replaced. 29 x 32 cm This piece was made for ‘Ala’ al-Din ‘Ali ibn Balban al-Badri, who was an amir of the tabal-khana (military band) in Damascus, and then became governor of Nablus and various other places. He was known for his rectitude and good conduct. He died in Rabi’ II 751/1350 (Salah al-Din al-Safadi, al-Wafi bi’l-wafiyat, vol. 20, Beirut, 1420/2000, p. 167). In Egypt, numerous candlesticks of this type were donated to mosques, mausoleums and Koranic schools. The Mamluk rulers of Egypt and Syria were important patrons of the arts and architecture. Provenance : Galerie Alexis Renard, Paris. circa 2015-2016. Inscriptions: - al-maqarr al-'ali al-mawlawi al-amiri al-kabiri al-'ala'i amir / 'ali walad al-janab al-'ali balban al-badri al-maliki al-nasiri 'The high authority, the lordly, the great amir, the 'Ala'i (i.e. 'Ala' al-Din), Amir 'Ali son of His High Excellency Balban al-Badri, the associated with al-Malik al-Nasir' - al-maqarr al-'ali al-mawlawi al-amiri al-kabiri al-ghazi al-mujahidi a/l-'ala'i amir 'ali walad al-janab al-'ali balban al-badri al-maliki al-nasiri 'The high authority, the lordly, the great amir, the holy warrior, the champion of the faith, the 'Ala'i (i.e. 'Ala' al-Din), Amir 'Ali, son of His High Excellency Balban al-Badri, the associated with al-Malik al-Nasir' - Une inscription ultérieure de possession au nom de / An owner's inscription reads: 'Yahya 'Ali Rajih'.