Lot 61
61
A GOLD MOUNTED AGATE CIGARETTE CASE WITH INSET TUGHRA OF SULTAN ABDULHAMID II
No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VA… Read more
A GOLD MOUNTED AGATE CIGARETTE CASE WITH INSET TUGHRA OF SULTAN ABDULHAMID II

EUROPE, PROBABLY FRANCE OR SWITZERLAND, 1876 - 1909

Details
A GOLD MOUNTED AGATE CIGARETTE CASE WITH INSET TUGHRA OF SULTAN ABDULHAMID II
EUROPE, PROBABLY FRANCE OR SWITZERLAND, 1876 - 1909
Of shallow rectangular form with truncated corners, hinged at back, each half made of one panel of mottled agate with bevelled edges, the top with applied diamond-set tughra of Sultan Abdulhamid II within similar inset border with radiating spandrels
3½in. (8.9cm.) wide
Special notice
No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 17.5% will be added to the buyer's premium, which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis.

Lot Essay

Sultan Abdulhamid II (1876-1909) was known to be extremely fond of cigarette smoking. Not only did he find it enjoyable, but it also provided a recently increased source of revenue for the Turkish nation! This is evidenced by the large number of smoking attributes included in the Paris sale at the Galerie Georges Petit, 27 November 1911. Each of the cigarette cases was of a different design. Many were variations on a theme with his initials either in Arabic or Roman characters, or with a tughra. Others had more innovative designs, such as one which had a map of the railways of Turkey on the cover, again set in precious stones! For further details please see Les Bijoux de S. M. le Sultan Abd-ul-Hamid II, Paris, n.d.(1912).

More from Islamic Art

View All
View All