Three embroidered silk purses, Turkey, first half 18th Century

consisting of three embroidered silk purses, the largest purse of rectangular form with a folding cover, embroidered using a combination of metal threads and colourful silks featuring leafy scrolls and flowers, the back with a central fruit basket between floral sprays, embroidered on the inside with: 'Constantinople' above '1748', the other rectangular purse of smaller size includes a three-lobed folding cover, with a metal thread embroidered background and beautiful large scrolling flowers across the surface highlighted with colourful silk threads, the third purse of oval shape, decorated with polychrome silk and metalic threads with a design of stylised flowers and leafy stems, butterfly motifs to the sides

Couleurs d'Orient, Brussels, 2010

Brussels 2010, p.109

All three in overall good condition, with some wear to the two rectangular purses, including a few loose threads to smaller purse, the smaller purse with replaced drawstring, some slitting to silk on neck of purse, all three slightly faded consistent with use and age, 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."

These extremely fine purses are delicately embroidered in a subtle palette on fine silk with a depth and contrast added by details in silver thread. This form of decoration appears in the first half of the eighteenth century and on a larger scale is used on a child's robe in the Topkapi Saray Museum (Tezcan 2006, p.235, no.201). Closely related to the larger of these purses are two of similar form and related decoration both of which were ordered by Cornelis Calkoen, then the Dutch Republic's ambassador to the Sublime Porte. They are dated 1727 and 1728 and are now in the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam (Teske 2011, pp.66 and 67, figs. 7 and 8).