TURKEY, 16TH/17TH CENTURY AND LATER

Details

AN OTTOMAN GEMSET AND JADE MOUNTED CASKET
TURKEY, 16TH/17TH CENTURY AND LATER
Of octagonal form on four applied cusped feet, with separate hinged domed lid with smaller hinged compartment on top, the gilt surface with applied jade panels inlaid with gold and set with rubies and emeralds, the area around these panels similarly and densely inset with stones, the interior of the box lined with green velvet, the underside of the lid with a calligraphic plaque with the names of Muhammad, Allah, the rashidun, Fatima and the bismillah with a date of AH 1012 (1603-04 AD), set around a central emerald rosette bordered by further rubies and emeralds, velvet slightly worn
6 1/8in. (15.8cm.) high

Special notice

These lots have been imported from outside the EU for sale using a Temporary Import regime. Import VAT is payable (at 5%) on the Hammer price. VAT is also payable (at 20%) on the buyer’s Premium on a VAT inclusive basis. When a buyer of such a lot has registered an EU address but wishes to export the lot or complete the import into another EU country, he must advise Christie's immediately after the auction.

Sale room notice

Please note this lot should be marked with a trident ᴪ symbol. This lot contains rubies or jadeite originating from Burma (Myanmar) and may not be imported into the USA. Please refer to the back of the catalogue for further information.

Brought to you by

Andrew Butler-Wheelhouse

abutler-wheelhouse@christies.com +44 (0) 20 7389 2196

Lot Essay

The technique of decorating objects with hardstones and gems set within floral mounts on gold tendrils is characteristic of the Ottoman aesthetic. From the 16th century the Ottomans decorated jewellery, weapons and vessels in this manner. A bracelet which sold in these Rooms, 16 October 2001, lot 262 demonstrates the technique as does another is in Frankfurt - see Türkische Kunst und Kultur aus osmanischer Zeit, exhibition catalogue, Frankfurt, 1985, no.7/4, vol.1, p.125 and vol.2, p.308. Weapons and horse trappings received similar treatment, as seen on a dagger and saddle published in Garo Kürkman, Ottoman Silver Marks, Istanbul, 1996, p. 136-37). The dagger and saddle published in Kürkman are both marked with the tughra of Murad IV (1623-40 AD), suggesting a similar date for the elements of our box. It is possible that the box was assembled into its current form at a later stage, probably in the 18th or early 19th century.

In his book The Age of Sultan Süleyman the Magnificent, Esin Atil describes the Ottoman taste of the period as showing a strong preference for bold red, green and bluish green stones with a mind to creating a coloristic effect unconcerned by the physical perfection of the gemstones (Esin Atil, The Age of Sultan Süleyman the Magnificent, New York, 1988, p. 118). The brilliant and colourful effect produced in a sense echoes the contemporaneous taste in manuscript illumination.

A closely related box with similar jade and hardstone panels was sold at Sotheby’s, 7 October 2009, lot 192.

More from Art of the Islamic and Indian Worlds

View All