OTTOMAN TURKEY, DATED AH 1314/1894 AD

Under the reign of Sultan Abdülhamid II (r. 1876-1909) a porcelain factory was established in the grounds of the Yildiz palace in Istanbul ; production started in 1892. These vases are interesting as they were produced in 1894-95, very early in the life of the Imperial Yildiz Factory, when production recommenced after the earthquake of 1894. The workshops employed several French craftsmen who produced high quality wares for use in the palace or as diplomatic gifts (Stephen Vernoit, Occidentalism, London, 1997, p.83). Our pair of vases, marked with the initials ha and ‘ain, was most likely intended as a gift to an Ottoman official or visiting dignitary. The workshop continued in operation until the eve of the First World War.