A cast bronze hanging lamp or polycandelon, Khurasan, late 12th century

of polygonal form with a central round cup-holder surrounded by six further cup-holders, the borders decorated with pairs of birds engraved with stylised feathers and inlaid with copper

Oil-filled glass vessels once hung from the round openings in this elegant hanging lamp or polycandelon, casting beautiful shadows on walls and floors.  The form was probably adapted from a Byzantine model. A similar example is in the David Collection, Copenhagen (inv. no.33/1994; von Folsach 2001, no.475, p.303), and another in the Walters Art Gallery, Baltimore (Atasoy, N., A. Bahrassi and M. Rogers, The Art of Islam, Paris 1990, p.138)