TWO BRONZE OPENWORK LANTERN COVERS
PROPERTY FROM AN IMPORTANT EUROPEAN PRIVATE COLLECTION
Possibly Khorasan, North-Eastern Iran, 12th - 13th century

Comprising a pierced lantern cover of compressed rounded shape, resting on a splayed circular foot, rising to wide, rounded shoulders and a circular rim, the main openwork decorative register around the body featuring interlocking circular medallions with knotwork and foliate sprays, the rim engraved with a chased fretwork band with roundels, below the rim a band of engraved pseudo-calligraphy, 10.5cm diam. and 15cm high; and a larger lantern cover, the pierced body with split palmette trellis and fleshy foliate motifs, below the rim a band of engraved pseudo-Kufic calligraphy, the foot fitted with a later brass hanging chain, 13cm diam. and 16.5cm high.