Candlestand

This candlestand is an example of the high-quality metalwork produced by Islamic artists in the 1500s and 1600s. This specific type, which required time-consuming cutting and etching of the metal, is associated with the reign of Shah Abbas (1558–1629) of the Safavid period. Under Shah Abbas, Isfahan was the capital city. Its factories were famous for fine ceramics, rugs, metal objects, and other luxury items that were exported to locations throughout Asia and Europe.

The inscription, from a poem by the Sufi poet Sa‘adi, reads: One night, I remember that my eyes wouldn’t close/I heard a butterfly telling the candle/that I am a mystical lover. If I burn ’tis legitimate/but for you to cry and burn yourself out, what is the reason?