25 - An Umayyad or Fatimid bronze candlestand,

An Umayyad or Fatimid bronze candlestand, Egypt, 10th-11th century With tripod base, supporting a stem with a succession of bosses, the lower faceted rectangular section with openwork, the upper with a faceted capital with floriated engraving and four protruding curved elements each terminating in a knop, 48cm high Provenance: Offered Sothebys 25 November 2008, Lot 88 The base of this lampstand compares favorably with a Fatimid lampstand in the David Collection, Copenhagen (Kjeld von Folsach, Art from the World of Islam in the David Collection, Copenhagen, 2001, no.460, p.299). The floriated elements on the feet and sides of the dome indicate a pre-12th century date. An interesting feature of the bronze candlestand is its faceted section at the top from which four elements with knops protrude in the form of the capital of a column. This imitates the drooping leaves of marble capitals, where the leaves extend as separate elements seen on Byzantine marble capitals from the 5th century.