A FINE OTTOMAN GILT COPPER (tombak) EWER AND BASIN, the basin of shallow form with rounded sides and everted lip, the broad mouth covered by a separate pierced plaque, the ewer with rounded body rising through a boss to the slightly everted mouth with hinged domed cover, simple loop handle and rising tapering bent spout, on spreading foot, the basin exterior engraved with lobed panels containing interlaced arabesques alternating with pendant motifs, the spandrels with scrolling floral motifs, the rim with a band of rope-motif panels alternating with floral meander panels, the mouth cover with two bands of pierced ogival interlaced lattice interrupted by roundels, the ewer with slightly convex lobed panels enclosing engraved panels of arabesque interlace, the upper panels with similar cypress tree motifs, a similar panel at the base of the spout, the cover with a band of meandering vine, early 18th century (gilding slightly rubbed)

Details

A FINE OTTOMAN GILT COPPER (tombak) EWER AND BASIN, the basin of shallow form with rounded sides and everted lip, the broad mouth covered by a separate pierced plaque, the ewer with rounded body rising through a boss to the slightly everted mouth with hinged domed cover, simple loop handle and rising tapering bent spout, on spreading foot, the basin exterior engraved with lobed panels containing interlaced arabesques alternating with pendant motifs, the spandrels with scrolling floral motifs, the rim with a band of rope-motif panels alternating with floral meander panels, the mouth cover with two bands of pierced ogival interlaced lattice interrupted by roundels, the ewer with slightly convex lobed panels enclosing engraved panels of arabesque interlace, the upper panels with similar cypress tree motifs, a similar panel at the base of the spout, the cover with a band of meandering vine, early 18th century (gilding slightly rubbed)
overall 16½in. (42cm.) high

Lot Essay

An almost identical piece came from the tomb of Selim I (1512-1520 AD) and is now in the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts in Istanbul, (inv. no. 212, published Türkische Kunst und Kultur aus osmanischer Zeit, exhibition catalogue, Museum für Kunsthandwerk Frankfurt am Main, Recklinghausen, 1985, p. 282, cat. no. 6/2, and plate p. 249). The similarity between the pieces is striking. There is less than an inch difference in height between them . The shapes and identifying features are identical. In addition to this even more minor aspects like the thickening of the opening of the spout, the positioning of bosses, the finials of domed lid and handle are likewise very similar. The decoration the both ewers and basins only differs slightly in terms of arrangement and motifs. It is thus very likely that both were made at a similar period in the same workshop.

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