A monumental pair of Islamic metalwork candlesticks is to go under the hammer after being discovered in a church in Lincolnshire. Bearing both Koranic inscription and words from a Christian hymn, these remarkable objects bridge a gap between the Muslim and Christian faiths - a timely reminder in today's political and religious climate that the two religions can stand side by side. Standing 7' 7'' high on a 75cm base, these identical silver-inlaid brass candlesticks date from the 19th century or earlier, and probably originate from Cairo. The extremely rare and intricately decorated candlesticks - or lamp stands - are set to fetch around £30,000 at Bonhams' sale of Islamic and Indian Art on 13 October at 101 New Bond Street. This is the first time they, or any similar object, have appeared at auction.

One of the world's leading experts on Islamic art and culture was astonished and intrigued by their discovery. "It is extremely rare to find a pair of monumental and elaborately inlaid candlesticks of this style and size in a Middle Eastern country," says Doris Behrens-Abouseif, Professor of Oriental and Asian Studies at the University of London. "It's even more unusual to find them in a redundant church in rural Lincolnshire."

The story of how the candlesticks came to be there centres on Sir Hickman Beckett Bacon (1855 - 1945), 11th Baronet of Redgrave and 12th Baronet of Mildenhall. In 1878, "Hickey," as he was affectionately known, donated a site for the church of St John the Divine in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire. A bachelor, philanthropist and collector, Bacon is best known for his collection of watercolours - which included 40 works by JMW Turner - but he also bought rugs, ceramics and textiles during his extensive travels abroad. According to his niece Lavinia Gibbs, who wrote a biography of her uncle, when St John the Divine was consecrated in 1882, "a bazaar was held in the Old Hall to raise funds and Hicky gave some brass candlesticks which he had brought back from Cairo." After the church was decommissioned, the candlesticks - hard to move as a result of their monumental size - remained in the church until this year.

The identically decorated candlesticks offer a truly intriguing specimen of late Islamic metalwork, as Professor Behrens-Abouseif describes: "the entire surface of the 236cm high cylindrical shafts is pierced to display openwork arabesque scrolls and inscriptions of exquisite quality. A kind of circular tray at the upper section bears a Koranic inscription (9/51): "Say, nothing will befall except what God has ordained for us." Another inscription on the shaft reads: "Glory to our Lord in Heaven," the words of a Christian hymn. The other inscriptions, which have not been fully deciphered, seem also to include Christian glorification of God among further Islamic references and artwork. It may be that the candlesticks were made for a middle-eastern church, but were based on similar objects that were made for mosques."

Comparable objects with a vase-shaped upper structure to hold a candle were used in mosques from the mid-17th century, and models closer to the Bonhams candlesticks in craftsmanship and decoration can be attributed to early 18th century Damascus. Their style and the timing of their arrival in England - no later than 1882 - suggest that they predate the Mamluk Revival style which originated in the late 19th century in Cairo and Damascus. Appropriately, the inscriptions use metaphors of light and Christian phrases that relate to Coptic liturgy - the teachings of the Christian Orthodox Church in Egypt.

The emergence of these incredible objects onto the market for the first time presents collectors and enthusiasts of Islamic art with a rare and unprecedented opportunity to acquire something truly remarkable. The poignancy of the combination of Islamic and Christian ideals inherent in the candlesticks' design will not be lost in today's religious and political climate, and the quality of craftsmanship combined with their rarity adds to their charm and value.

ABOUT BONHAMS

Bonhams, founded in 1793, is one of the world's oldest and largest auctioneers of fine art and antiques. Today, Bonhams is the third largest and fastest growing auction house in the world with a global network of offices and regional representatives providing sales advice and valuation services in 20 countries.

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