A silver-inlaid cast brass candlestick, Anatolia or Jazira, 13th century, with Classical Armenian inscription dated 1077 in the Great Armenian era (AD 1628)

of bell-form with waisted sides, flattened shoulder and short cylindrical neck terminating in a concave moulded socket, engraved and inlaid in silver, the main field of decoration with three large roundels enclosing figures on horseback engaged in hunting and hawking activities, interspersed with smaller roundels showing paired figures, musicians and a figure seated cross-legged holding a cup, the interstices filled with vegetal scrolls and narrow bands of calligraphy, the neck with birds of prey in medallion carouches with a broad inscription band between minor bands of chain pattern, the socket with an animated inscription and further cartouches enclosing key-fret pattern, the flat edge of the drip-pan engraved with a Classical Armenian inscription

inscriptions

Around the rim, in cursive:

al-'izz al-da/'im wa al-iqba/l wa al-....

'Perpetual glory and Prosperity and ...'

Around the base, in cursive:

al-'izz al-da'im wa al-iqbal wa a/l-dawla wa al-sa'ada wa al-sala/ma wa al-kira [ma] wa al-raha wa a/

'Perpetual glory and Prosperity and wealth and Happiness and Well-being and Generosity and Ease and'

Those around the neck and body in Kufic: Undeciphered

The most unique feature is the Classical Armenian inscription around the edge of the drip-pan:

«Յ[Ի]Շ[ԱՏԱ]Կ Է ՇԱՄԱՏԱՆՍ ԱՒԵՏԻՍԻՆ Ի Դ[ՈՒՌ]Ն Ս[ՈՒՐ]Բ ԿԱՐԱՊԵՏԻՆ ԹՎ[ԻՆ] ՌՉԷ

Yishatak e shamatans Awetisin i dourn Sourb Karapetin thvin RCE (1077)

'This candlestick is to the memory of Awetis laid at the door of Saint Karapet [Church] in the year 1077'

The dating in the Great Armenian era is 1077, with the added differential of +551 = 1628 AD.

The Monastery of St. Karapet [Saint John the fore-runner] is situated in Western Armenia in the province of Erzeroum, on Mount Sepouh. The term sham [atans] from the Arabic samm meaning 'to smell', 'to let out  incense' is also used in Armenian for 'candle'.