OTTOMAN TURKEY, DATED 1626 AND 1731

Details

A SILVER CHALICE
OTTOMAN TURKEY, DATED 1626 AND 1731
Of typical form rising from a trumpet foot with repoussé decoration below a filigree band, the underside of the foot dated 1731 and inscribed in Greek, the shaft with a raised knop before the flaring cup, two bands of Greek around the exterior, small repair to the base
8¾in. (22.3cm.) high

Engraved

Around the rim, ????? [?]? ????? ?????S ????? ?S?? ?? ???? ??? ?? ??S ?????S ???T???S ?? ???? ??O? +¦?[?]? ????O[?] ??????????? + ?????T???? ???? ?O ??O ??S ????G??S ??S ??????????? ????, 'Drink from it all of you this is my blood of the new covenant which for you + ¦and many is poured out + This was dedicated to the Church of the Virgin in Palikpazari 1626'

Around the underside of the foot: further partially deciphered Greek inscription which mentions the district of Ortakoy, an individual called Stephanos and dated 1731 AD

Brought to you by

Andrew Butler-Wheelhouse

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

Lot Essay

This chalice is composed of two sections - the 17th century cup and shaft and a later 18th century rococo foot. The inscription on the rim relates to a legend of the church of the Presentation of Mary Stavrodromiou, in the Beyoglu district of Istanbul. The construction of the church in its present location started in 1804. At that point the Greek Orthodox community was rapidly expanding. A new church was needed to serve the community, but building new churches in the city was not permitted under Ottoman law. As a result a legend of a previous church on this site was revived, so that the new construction could be classified as the rebuilding of a previous place of worship. The inscription on this chalice provides material evidence that a previous church dedicated to the Virgin in the vicinity of the Balik Pazari in Beyoglu perhaps did exist.
We would like to thank George Manginis for assistance in cataloguing this lot.

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