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Lot Essay
A pair of tombak ewers exhibited in the Kyburg Gallery, London, in 1988 show a decoration similar to our ewer with acanthus leaves and floral sprays. Both ewers had retained their chains linking the stopper and the lid to the body. This type of ewer with screwing stoppers was supposedly made to bring back holy water from the well of zem zem after the pilgrimage to Mecca (E. Grünberg & E. M. Torn, Four Centuries of Ottoman Taste, London, 1988, cat.40).
A ewer of identical shape was sold at Sotheby's, 21 October 1993, lot 207. A comparable ewer is in the Aron Collection (James W. Allan, Metalwork of the Islamic World, p.114-5, cat.24). With another ewer sold at Sotheby's, London, 15 October 2003, lot 68, they are very good examples of the Ottoman baroque style which starts developing during the reign of Ahmed III (r.1703-1730).
A ewer of identical shape was sold at Sotheby's, 21 October 1993, lot 207. A comparable ewer is in the Aron Collection (James W. Allan, Metalwork of the Islamic World, p.114-5, cat.24). With another ewer sold at Sotheby's, London, 15 October 2003, lot 68, they are very good examples of the Ottoman baroque style which starts developing during the reign of Ahmed III (r.1703-1730).