Candlestick

This candlestick has incised decoration of a broad band of calligraphy interspersed with circular blazons of a pair of polo-sticks, and later incised calligraphy. The inscription around the neck repeats the Arabic word al-'Alim: "The Learned." Around the body, the text reads: "The high authority, the commander, the possessor, the warrior, the holy warrior, the defender, the one aided [by God], the sustaining, the distinguished, the learned, the diligent, the pious, [the officer of the Sultan] al-Malik al-Kamil [Sha'ban]. The blazon represents the office of the polo-master (jukandar) and appears to be that of al-Malik, an important Mamluk court officer.