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Afghani Bronze Oil Lamp And Stand c. 11th/12th AD

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:500.00 USD Estimated At:2,000.00 - 4,000.00 USD
Afghani Bronze Oil Lamp And Stand c. 11th/12th AD
For your consideration is an Afghani Bronze Oil Lamp and Stand, circa 11th - 12th century A.D. The Ghaznavid dynasty, found in the city of Lashkar Gah, once historically called Bost or Boost was once the site of a Ghaznavid palace and soldiers' bazaar near the confluence of the Helmand and Arghandab rivers in southeastern Afghanistan. Provenance: the Owen D. Mort, Jr. Collection. Owen David Mort was an American engineer who amassed an impressive collection throughout his worldwide travels. His collection has included art, artifacts and other historical items from which he has donated to museums at the University of Utah and the Snite Museum of Art at the University of Notre Dame, including Afghani artifacts. The monuments at Bost include remains from periods of ancient Iranian, Greco-Roman, and Indian domination, as well as the ruins of an imposing fortress, a soaring arch with baked-brick decoration in geometric patterns. The wealth of the medieval city was attested by Arab and Persian writers. Much of Afghanistan's art can be traced back through the invasions, occupations, empires, and dynasties that so frequently have ravaged the country. Afghanistan has been a crossroads of cultures that make up the colorfully robust and dynamic foundation of Afghan art. The National Museum of Afghanistan showcases Islamic artifacts from the Ghaznavid dynasty in the 12th Century A.D. Attached description tag describes lamp stand as brass, a description which was interchangeable with bronze during the Islamic Medieval Age which is consistent with historical accounts relative to metals and particularly alloys. The triangle-shaped lamp stand sits on three clawed feet which are centered on a concave base, a trapezoid-shaped iron pin is centered on a flat base for holding the lamp. The colors seen on ancient bronzes are mostly a result of copper oxidizing to form red-brown cuprite, green malachite, and bluish azurite. A rich patina noted throughout. Approximate measurements are 6.5" x 6.5" x 4"H with the weight as 1lb, 10oz.*