- 410
A magnificent Ottoman tortoiseshell and mother-of-pearl box, Turkey, circa 1640
Estimate
70,000 - 100,000 GBP
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Description
- tortoiseshell, mother-of-pearl, ivory, wood, silk lining
of octagonal form on arched feet with fitted, gabled lid, decorated with tortoiseshell and mother-of-pearl sections organised in a cintamani design with ivory borders
Condition
In overall good condition, one mother-of-pearl section between feet missing, and one cracked, some with re-consolidation, the body with some sections of mother-of-pearl and tortoiseshell slightly warped with re-consolidation, a section of mother-of-pearl on lid of box replaced with foil-backed material, the other lightly cracked, as viewed.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."
Catalogue Note
This unique box characterised by its octagonal form, luxurious use of materials, notably tortoiseshell, mother-of-pearl and ivory as well as its design, derived from the classic crescent moon and star with a cintamani motif on the lid, an iconic Ottoman theme.
Although the box’s octagonal shape can be traced back to Roman and Byzantine times, the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem most probably served as the model for the other boxes produced in this shape during the Ottoman period, with the primary function of containing religious artefacts, for example, the Qur’an cabinets in the Turkish and Islamic Art Museum in Istanbul (inv. nos. 2, 3, 5, 10), published in The Museum of Turkish and Islamic Art, Akbank, Istanbul, 2002, pp. 255-9.
A connection can be made with the reliquary casket in the Hall of the Mantle of the Prophet in the Topkapi Palace Museum which was intended to preserve hairs from the beard of the Prophet (inv. no. 21/391, published H. Aydin, Hırka-i Saadet Dairesi ve Mukaddes Emanetler, Kaynak, Istanbul, 2004, p. 108 ). This shape is also seen on another reliquary in the Topkapi Treasury, designed to hold the relic of St. John the Baptist (inv.no. 2/2743, see T. Mimarlik, Topkapi Palace – The Imperial Treasury, Istanbul, 2001, p.62).
Its design (and subsequent dating) relates to shutters in the Bağdad Köşk in Topkapi palace, built in 1638-9, which feature the same cintamani motifs, rare in furniture (see Rogers 1988, pp.44-45, nos.106-7). In form and stylistic repertoire, it is comparable to a box in the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (inv.no.M.2005.125), dated to circa 1640 and a mirror case in the Esterházy Schatzkammer, Schloss Forchtenstein, Austria. Further analogies can be drawn with a number of artworks in other media: textiles (such as velvet brocade in the David Collection, Copenhagen, inv.no.25/1962), and furniture (see the inlaid wood campaign throne, possibly for Suleyman the Magnificent, in the Topkapi Palace Museum, inv.no.2/2879, Atil 1987, p.168, no.107).
Although the box’s octagonal shape can be traced back to Roman and Byzantine times, the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem most probably served as the model for the other boxes produced in this shape during the Ottoman period, with the primary function of containing religious artefacts, for example, the Qur’an cabinets in the Turkish and Islamic Art Museum in Istanbul (inv. nos. 2, 3, 5, 10), published in The Museum of Turkish and Islamic Art, Akbank, Istanbul, 2002, pp. 255-9.
A connection can be made with the reliquary casket in the Hall of the Mantle of the Prophet in the Topkapi Palace Museum which was intended to preserve hairs from the beard of the Prophet (inv. no. 21/391, published H. Aydin, Hırka-i Saadet Dairesi ve Mukaddes Emanetler, Kaynak, Istanbul, 2004, p. 108 ). This shape is also seen on another reliquary in the Topkapi Treasury, designed to hold the relic of St. John the Baptist (inv.no. 2/2743, see T. Mimarlik, Topkapi Palace – The Imperial Treasury, Istanbul, 2001, p.62).
Its design (and subsequent dating) relates to shutters in the Bağdad Köşk in Topkapi palace, built in 1638-9, which feature the same cintamani motifs, rare in furniture (see Rogers 1988, pp.44-45, nos.106-7). In form and stylistic repertoire, it is comparable to a box in the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (inv.no.M.2005.125), dated to circa 1640 and a mirror case in the Esterházy Schatzkammer, Schloss Forchtenstein, Austria. Further analogies can be drawn with a number of artworks in other media: textiles (such as velvet brocade in the David Collection, Copenhagen, inv.no.25/1962), and furniture (see the inlaid wood campaign throne, possibly for Suleyman the Magnificent, in the Topkapi Palace Museum, inv.no.2/2879, Atil 1987, p.168, no.107).