A YILDIZ PORCELAIN ARMORIAL PLATTER

OTTOMAN ISTANBUL, DATED AH 1312/1894-95 AD

Details

A YILDIZ PORCELAIN ARMORIAL PLATTER
OTTOMAN ISTANBUL, DATED AH 1312/1894-95 AD
On short foot, the centre decorated in polychrome and gilt with the coat of arms of the Ottoman Empire and the tughra of Sultan Abdülhamid II (r. 1876-1909), surrounded by a crescent moon with naskh inscriptions surrounded by a cusped medal, the rim gilded and with a band of strapwork, the underside with the Yildiz mark and date
14¼in. (36.3cm.) diam.

Engraved

Al-must'anid bi'l-tawfiqat al-rabaniyya malik al-dawla al-'uthmaniyya, 'The one who is supported by divine success, the King of the Ottoman realm'

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Lot Essay

Under the reign of Sultan Abdülhamid II (r. 1876-1909) a porcelain factory and several workshops were established in the grounds of the Yildiz palace. Production started in 1892, though two years later the factory was damaged by an earthquake. The workshops employed a number of French craftsmen who produced high quality wares for use in the palace or as diplomatic gifts (Stephen Vernoit, Occidentalism, London, 1997, p.83). The patriotic sentiment of this dish suggests that it was probably a diplomatic gift. The workshop continued in operation until the eve of the First World War.

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