An Arabic inscribed blue and white candlestick with Zhengde six-character mark within double-circle, China, Zhengde period, 1506-21, with later Ottoman tombak neck
Estimate
15,000 - 25,000 GBP
Lot Details
Description
A turned metal shaft mounted into a porcelain base. The upper element is cylindrical and vertically oriented, with a series of raised bands and flared sections, finished in a dark patinated metal with traces of gilding or surface wear. The lower element is a white porcelain stand of flared, footed form, decorated in underglaze blue with stylized floral and geometric motifs, four circular medallions containing four Arabic words.
27.3cm. height
The Arabic inscriptions reflect the close interaction between Chinese artisans and Muslim communities. Such inscriptions were often commissioned for export to Middle Eastern markets or for Chinese Muslims, demonstrating the Ming court’s engagement with the Islamic world. Similar examples can be found in the Palace Museum, Beijing, as well as the Freer Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C. (acc. no.F1953.75a-b).
The combination of finely executed cobalt decoration, refined form, and Arabic inscriptions provides insight into the circulation of material culture between China and the Islamic world, highlighting the ways in which Ming workshops engaged with diverse aesthetic and cultural influences.
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