Collection record · Everyday wonders
Mosque Lamp
The collection record classifies this work as ceramic. It is dated 1585–95. Recorded culture or place: Turkey, Iznik, Ottoman period (1299–1922).
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A closer look at the details.
- Museum title
- Mosque Lamp
- Date
- 1585–95
- Culture / origin
- Turkey, Iznik, Ottoman period (1299–1922)
- Materials and technique
- Fritware with underglaze design
- Dimensions
- Overall: 28.4 x 19.5 cm (11 3/16 x 7 11/16 in.); Diameter of rim: 17 cm (6 11/16 in.)
- Artist / maker
- Not specified by the museum
- Museum
- The Cleveland Museum of Art
- Accession number
- 1944.236
FROM THE MUSEUM
In the museum’s words
The following description is reproduced from the Cleveland Museum of Art’s original English record.
Mosque lamps typically functioned as a lampshade, containing an oil lamp inside. Due to the opacity of this Ottoman lamp, it is likely that its primary function was not illumination. Instead, it would have been hung from chains in a mosque or mausoleum to add to the beauty of the space. This lamp is decorated with bright red carnations and blue hyacinths with additional floral and vegetal elements. The turquoise loops would have served for suspension from the ceiling. It is also possible that lamps like this were used as acoustic devices, softening the echo of prayer and discussion within the mosque’s halls.
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Text and image sources
The Cleveland Museum of Art · Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund · CC0
The summary is based on public collection data. Refer to the museum’s latest record for the title, date and attribution.
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