A Persian Seljuk Bronze 5 spouted oil lamp in a feline shape, 12-13th Century – Khurasan- Persia.
This beautiful early Seljuk cast bronze oil lamp is typically fashioned in a hybrid animal form of a body of a hooved bull with a feline head. A pair of oil spouts project from a cubical section below the head in the fore, while single spouts project on either side.
The fifth spout is adapted in the tail itself. Two engraved spirals on the two hind legs of the bull are connected by a stylized rope above the tail section. The body itself is inscribed in kufic scripture with the Arabic words (لصاحبه بركة) meaning “Blessing for its owner.” Such items dating back to the 12th or 13th centuries in this complete and good condition are very scarce.