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Glass Vessel in the Shape of a Mosque Lamp

1878
Joseph Brocard

The glass-maker Philippe-Joseph Brocard (1831−1896) acquired a thorough knowledge of the arts of Islam early in life as a restorer for the Rothschild collections and the Musée de Cluny in the period 1850−1860. His mastery of transparency, polychromy, iridescence and shaping aroused wonder at the World’s Fairs of 1867 and 1878, a period when another expert enameller, Albert Pfulb, was also producing splendid mosque lamps. Detached from their religious function, these articles were presented as testimony to the decorative genius of Islamic art. The very choice of the object imitated and the calligraphic decoration are indicative of an effort made with varying acuteness to grasp the essence of Islamic art while emphasising the distinctiveness of a model diametrically opposed to the European figurative tradition.

Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi/ Photo: APF

Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi/ Photo: APF

Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi/ Photo: APF

Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi/ Photo: APF

Artist: Joseph Brocard
Title: Glass Vessel in the Shape of a Mosque Lamp
Geography: Paris, France
Date: 1878
Medium: blown, enamelled and gilded glass
Classification: glasswork
Dimensions: 14.5 x 10.5 x 10.5 cm
Inventory number: LAD 2012.012
Contact for images: [email protected]
Permalink: https://www.louvreabudhabi.ae/en/Explore/online-collection/glass-vessel-in-the-shape-of-a-mosque-lamp-1878
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