Local Artisans Recreate Islamic Lamps for Metropolitan Museum of Art

NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
By Katie Nelson

Kevin Kutch works glass from his Red Hook studio warehouse.
His art glass company has created 16 lanterns for Metropolitan Museum of Art.

NEW YORK - A Red Hook art glass company has created 16 mosque lanterns for the new Islamic wing of The Metropolitan Museum of Art. The series is a modern take on the traditional ceramic mosque lamps made in the Middle East, adding a local touch to the museum's 15 new Islamic-themed galleries.The couple started on the lantern project more than four years ago when they took measurements from two Islamic Mamluk Dynasty-era lamps that date back to sometime between 1250 and 1517, according to Sheila Canby, head of the Met's Islamic Art Department. The final product is about 14 inches tall, maybe 10 inches wide and weighs about 6 pounds. [link]