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Tughra box of Sultan Abdülhamid II
Ottoman Empire, dated 129…
See original version (French)
100
-
Tughra box of Sultan Abdülhamid II
Ottoman Empire, dated 129…
See original version (French)
Estimate €8,000 - €10,000
Voluntary lot
Description
Tughra box of Sultan Abdülhamid II
Ottoman Empire, dated 1298 H (1880-81)
A rectangular four-legged wooden chest, entirely inlaid with mother-of-pearl, with an opening front revealing nine interior drawers finely decorated with stylised plant compositions. The top is decorated with a large imperial tughra of Sultan Abdülhamid II, framed by floral scrolls in the corners. The flap is inscribed inside the basmala. All four vertical sides are decorated with calligraphic verses in Arabic and Ottoman Turkish, in thuluth and ta'lîq script. The inscriptions, which are of great finesse, combine religious prose, mystical verses and panegyrics. The main façade features an Arabic couplet invoking divine protection through the intercession of the five members of the Prophet's family (ashâb al-kisâ'), followed by a verse in Turkish praising the purity of the land trodden by the Prophet. The other sides include a qasîda attributed to Ibn Jubayr (d. 1217), mystical verses and Qur'anic fragments (sura al-hadîd 57:3).
29 x 38.5 x 25 cm (11.4 x 15.2 x 9.8 in.)
Condition: very good overall. Some minor cracks and restorations to the mother-of-pearl, but the decoration is well preserved.
An exceptional object in terms of the quality of its workmanship and the richness of its decoration, this box bears witness to the luxurious production of Ottoman workshops at the end of the 19th century, intended for scholars, high officials and dignitaries. The combination of verses and prose reflects the refined culture of Ottoman patronage, nourished by both piety and poetry.
An Ottoman rectangular wooden cabinet with hinged front panel opening to reveal nine drawers, inlaid with mother-of-pearl, with Qur'anic verses, Arabic and Turkish poetic inscriptions in thuluth and ta'liq script, and a large tughra of Sultan Abdülhamid II, Turkey, dated 1298 AH / 1880-81.
See original version (French)
Auto-translation. Refer to original language for legal validity.
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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