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$8,500
Monumental late 19th-century Middle Eastern Islamic floor candlestick or candleholder, handcrafted in pierced brass circa 1880. This impressive antique decorative object measures 62 inches high by 22 inches in diameter—157.48 cm high by 55.88 cm in diameter—and has the architectural presence of a floor lamp while remaining an unelectrified candle or incense stand. Its unusually large scale, elaborate openwork and aged golden-brass patina make it an exceptional focal point for a sophisticated residential, hospitality or gallery interior. The floor candlestick rises from a broad, stepped circular base decorated with dense pierced and engraved ornament. Above the base, a trumpet-shaped foot supports a pear-form element before transitioning into the long, slightly tapering cylindrical shaft. Pronounced collars divide the shaft and provide visual rhythm. A second pear-shaped section supports the gently flaring upper mouth with its broad, flat rim. The overall silhouette is tall, balanced and architectural, reflecting the monumental character associated with important Islamic ceremonial and decorative metalwork. Nearly every visible surface has been ornamented by hand. The brass incorporates finely pierced openwork, chased and chiseled decoration, engraved borders and repeating geometric patterns. Scrolling vines emerge from cusped palmettes, while arched and rectangular cartouches contain additional foliate arabesques. Interlocking palmettes, stylized cloud forms and calligraphic bands enrich the shaft, base and flaring upper section. The decoration includes Kufic-style Arabic calligraphy and bands that appear to contain verses. The inscriptions have not been independently translated; therefore, they are described as Arabic calligraphic ornament rather than confirmed Persian writing or identifiable religious text. This careful description preserves the visual and cultural importance of the inscriptions without making an unsupported attribution. The design relates to the Mamluk Revival tradition that flourished during the 19th century, when artisans in Egypt, Syria and other parts of the Middle East reinterpreted the metalworking vocabulary of medieval Islamic art. Historic Mamluk brass objects were admired for their calligraphy, complex arabesques, pierced decoration and technical precision. Revival-
