An Original Medieval Lamp or a 19th-Century Imitation?

Or both? Analysis of glass composition helps identify the mosque lamp's medieval origins and later additions

Enameled glass mosque lamps were originally produced in Egypt and greater Syria during the Ayyubid (c. 1171-1260 CE) and Mamluk (c. 1250-1517 CE) periods. This lamp has a flared neck, a globular body, six suspension loops at its shoulder, and a splayed foot attached to the body. All of these components were made from clear blown glass decorated with multicolored enamels and gilding. 
 
The Center for Scientific Studies in the Arts investigated the origin and production of an enamel mosque lamp in the collection of the Brooklyn Museum. This lamp presented an interesting case study for how elemental composition analysis can be used to support authentication and conservation decisions. Some scholars of Islamic art have suggested that the lamp’s formal characteristics could support a medieval-period attribution. Others have proposed that it could be a 19th-century reproduction, when this style of lamp was sold to satisfy European collectors’ new tastes for “Islamic” art.

In this project, researchers used a combination of analytical techniques to characterize the materials, their microstructure, and composition: in-situ X-ray fluorescence analysis (XRF), Raman spectroscopy, and Scanning Electron Microscopy with Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (SEM-EDS). 

The technical analysis revealed that the lamp’s body, handles, and wick-holder were produced using the same type of glass, likely made from a plant ash flux typical of medieval Islamic glass. The body’s enamel decorations contain materials consistent with Mamluk production. The foot’s distinct composition, however, indicates that it is a later addition to the object.

The combination of analytical, stylistic, and historical evidence suggests that this glass lamp is a Mamluk period example, one of few that hold an integral wick-holder. The dating of the lamp to the medieval period allowed researchers to make recommendations regarding its conservation; indeed, conservators may choose not to reattach the foot that was determined to be a later addition.

Publication:
Salvant, J., V. Schussler, C. McKenna, L. Bruno, M. Ganio, M. Walton. 2016. "Investigation of an Enameled Glass Mosque Lamp: A 13th–14th-century Mamluk Example or 19th-century European Version?" Heritage Science 4 (1): 5, 1-13.