|
NAFIS BIN AWZ BIN HAKIM AL KIRMANI (d. 1449) SHARH I MUJIZ AL QANUN: A TREATISE ON DISEASES and THEIR CURES
Ottoman Turkey, 19th century
Arabic manuscript on paper, 20ll. of naskh script in black ink, 254ff. plus five fly-leaves with significant words in red, marginal notes, catchwords, re-bound in brown calf, 26cm x 16.5cm.
£2,000-£3,000
|
|
|
AN OTTOMAN AL-JAZULI'S DALA'IL AL-KHAYRAT
Ottoman Turkey, signed by Wali ud-din Al Adib, dated 1185 AH (1771)
A collection of prayers, Arabic manuscript on paper, each folio with 11ll. of naskh script in black ink, 155ff., plus six fly leaves, with red and puce burnished end papers, with gold circular text markers, within gold, blue, and red ruling, catchwords, sacred words and phrases in red, chapter headings illuminated in gold and polychromes, with two views of Mecca and the Holy Mosque, the gilt-decorated ribs bound in tooled dark brown flapped calf with central medallions and lobed corner motifs, the text panel 10.5cm x 6.2cm, the folio 15.7cm x 10.7cm.
£3,000-£5,000
|
|
|
A PROVINCIAL QUR'AN
North Africa, 19th - 20th century
Sura 2 (Al-Baqarah) v. 11, Arabic manuscript on paper, 11ll. of black ink naskh script, in brown blind-tooled flapped binding, 30.5cm x 20.7cm.
£150-£180
|
|
|
A PROVINCIAL QUR'AN
North Africa, 19th - 20th century
Arabic manuscript on paper, the first six folios in naskh, the rest in a provincial hand, each folio with 13ll., catchwords, two puce fly-leaves water-marked with three crescents and the letters 'VD', in fine blind-tooled red morocco flapped binding, 31.5cm x 21.5cm.
£200-£300
|
|
|
FOUR ETHIOPIAN AND NORTH AFRICAN MANUSCRIPTS ON JURISPRUDENCE
North Africa, 19th century
Arabic manuscripts on paper bound in dark calf, plenty of notes and markings, red dots, no rulings, free-flowing naskh script, their dimensions 25cm x 18cm; 23cm x 17cm; 26cm x 17cm; and 23cm x 17cm.
£300-£500
|
|
|
TWO LOOSE BIFOLIA FROM A PRINTED SYRIAC BOOK
Possibly Syria or Jerusalem, late 19th - 20th century
Arabic printed book in Syriac script known as karshuni, two bifolia in vertical format with 14ll. to the page, the script in both red and black ink, possibly a book on prayers due to the emphatic repetition of similar words in red ink, red bottony crosses used as text markers, the bifolia once bound as evident from the four circular holes in the middle of the page joint, framed and glazed, 41.5cm x 30cm including mount.
£200-£300
|
|
|
TWO AL QIRWANI 'S TANBIH AL ANAM
North Africa, 19th century
Arabic manuscripts on paper on Islamic manners and the glorification of the Prophet, 151ff., plus four fly-leaves,each folio with 21ll., in naskh script in black ink on paper, sacred names in red, catchwords, the paper watermarked with a shield bearing a crescent moon, and with an attribution to an Istanbul papermaker in naskh script, in flapped tooled tan calf binding, 36cm x 24cm; and another, very similar, once the property of Abd-ul Qadir bin Aba Juber, finger-print-marked in blue ink, 153ff., 20ll., 36.5cm x 24cm.
£400-£600
|
|
|
AN EBRU SHEET AND TWO CALLIGRAPHIC COMPOSITIONS
Ottoman Turkey, 19th century
Comprising a fine piece of ebru paper marbling, the predominant ground colour of taupe swirled with black, with two pink, blue, and green flower heads against the outer mount of marbled pink paper, framed and glazed, 16cm x 10cm, 30.5cm x 24cm including frame; an Arabic manuscript on paper, 6ll., hadith and prayers in naskh script, the text within white clouds against gold ground, inscribed Yaqut Mosta'sami (misspelt), framed and glazed, 14cm x 25cm, 16cm x 28.5cm including frame; and a folio of calligraphic exercises on combinations of words incorporating H and J in naskh script laid on marbled paper, mounted, framed and glazed, 7cm x 21.5cm, 21.5cm x 36cm including frame.
£200-£300
|
|
|
A CHINESE QUR'AN, JUZ' 12 (11:6 to 12:52)
PROPERTY FROM AN IMPORTANT EUROPEAN PRIVATE COLLECTION
China, 18th - 19th century
Arabic manuscript on paper, 32ff., each folio with 5ll. of sini script, the verses marked with gold rosettes, red reading marks, the opening and final bifolia illuminated in geometric and floral designs, with gold highlights, within red rulings, bound in reinforced brown paper, 23.2cm x 17.5cm.
£600-£800
|
|
|
AN OTTOMAN FIRMAN
Ottoman Turkey, dated 1272 AH (1856)
Ottoman Turkish manuscript on cream paper, 5ll. to the page of black ink diwani script, at the top the elegant tughra of Abdul Mejid I (r. 1839 - 1861) in washed black ink with sprinkled gold dust, on the reverse sparse notes and signatures in black ink in Arabic and comments in pencil in English, possibly added by past owners, stating the subject of the firman, a permit for a ship leaving Constantinople in 1834, the folio 79cm x 56.5cm.
£300-£500
|
|
|
AN OTTOMAN FIRMAN
Ottoman Turkey, 19th century
Ottoman Turkish manuscript on burnished paper, 8ll. to the page of black and red ink diwani script, some areas of the script sprinkled with gold dust, at the top the elegant tughra of Abdul Hamid II (r. 1842 - 1918) in red ink, mounted, glazed and framed, 73.5cm x 49.2cm including the frame.
£500-£700
|
|
|
A VARIANT OF THE SUBHATU'L-AKHBAR (ROSARY OF THE TIMES): A manuscripT on Genealogy
Ottoman Turkey, 19th century
Ottoman manuscript on paper, 28ff., plus one fly-leaf, in black and coloured inks, illustrated with numerous charts delineating the genealogy of the Ottoman Sultans, from Adam and the Prophet, to Sultan Yildirim Bayezid (1360-1403 AD), bound in soft brown leather, 30.2cm x 20.5cm.
£3,000-£5,000
|
|
|
A MOROCCAN PILGRIMAGE SCROLL
North Africa, dated 1191 AH (1777)
Arabic manuscript on paper, in maghribi script in black ink, the significant words and sacred names in red and green, the borders decorated with stylised vegetal decoration in ochre and green, within red ruling, the top section with six charts and graphs pertaining to the locality of the pilgrimage and the sacred genealogy, the lower section of the scroll with the symbolic foot-print of the holy Prophet, witnessed and signed, bearing three seals for Seyyed Hossein, Mustafa, and Abd-el-Razzaq, 413cm long, 35cm wide.
£500-£700
|
|
|
A GENEALOGICAL BANNER ON VELLUM
North Africa, Ottoman Provinces, 18th - 19th century
Arabic manuscript on vellum, in maghribi script in polychrome inks within a scrolling border, the field with a variety of family trees in parallel linking the Nasrid dynasty to the holy Prophet, the main axis in the shape of a cross, the boldest lettering reserved for the Nasrid motto, the declaration of faith and blessings to the Prophet and his family, signed Abdullah Ja'far, 80cm x 56.5cm.
£1,800-£2,200
|
|
|
THE TUGHRA OF 'ABD AL HAMID I (r. 1774 - 89)
Ottoman Turkey, last quarter 18th century
Opaque pigments, black ink and gold on paper, the majestic tughra painted in gold in a vertical composition, two diagonal lines rising upward from the signature's beginning and end and creating a charming triangle filled with floral sprays to the interior and flames to the exterior, interspersed lobed cartouches and part of the tughra filled with polychrome-painted floral bloom and tendrils on a cobalt blue ground, mounted, glazed and framed, 65.5cm x 40.2cm including the frame.
£1,500-£2,000
|
|
|
A HAJJ PILGRIMAGE SOUVENIR LACQUER BOX
Ottoman Jazeera, early 20th century
The elongated top painted with a panoramic view of the mosque compound and the Ka'ba in Mecca, surrounded by mountains, the black border with gold floral tendrils, the sides of deep chestnut with metal hinges and escutcheon, the base and interior with highly polished black lacquer, 28.3cm x 8.2cm x 5.3cm high.
£150-£200
|
|
|
FOUR LITHOGRAPHED HAJJ CERTIFICATES
Ottoman Provinces and Mecca, 20th century
Comprising four coloured printed certificates of the pilgrimage to the Muslim sacred sites, each slightly different but overall with the same composition of a large panoramic view of the interior of the Masjid al-Haram with Ka'ba at its centre, the minbar from where the Prophet gave its first sermon, and views of other sacred sites in smaller roundels or cartouches at the bottom or on the margins, the largest approximately 50cm x 69.5cm.
£300-£500
|
|
    |
TWO REVERSE GLASS PAINTINGS OF MECCA AND MEDINA
Ottoman Provinces, late 19th - early 20th century
Of rectangular horizontal format, polychrome opaque pigments on glass, depicting an aerial view of Ka'ba and the mosque al-Masjid al-Haram in Mecca, and an interior view of the portico of the mosque an-Nabawi in Medina, glazed, framed, the largest 64cm x 49cm including the frame.
£600-£800
|
|
|
A CHILD'S TUNIC
Ottoman Turkey, 19th century
Presently in the shape of a tabard (with open sides), the raspberry satin silk worked in the centre with spangles and metallic white threads with scrolling flowers stemming from an urn, the field with floral sprigs, the neck and sleeve hems with floral meanders and a key pattern, lined in pale pink cotton, 51cm long, 63cm full width of open sleeves.
£300-£400
|
|
|
A TALISMANIC SHIRT
Ottoman Provinces, late 19th - early 20th century
Of unbleached cotton, the open-front A-line shirt intricately worked in calligraphic charts and forms, predominantly in naskh script in black, red, and gold ink, with prayers and Quranic phrases, invocations, kufic inscriptions, scrolling tendrils on the lower sides, the sacred names of Allah in gold within red, blue, and green circles, gilt highlights throughout, glazed, lined in unbleached cotton, edged with mercerised yarn, matching buttons and hooks, 81cm long,
£400-£600
|
|
|
A CAUCASIAN NIELLO AND SILVER BELT
Ottoman Caucasus, late 19th - early 20th century
With silver plaques mounted and secured on a leather strip, decorated with oval medallions filled with stylised arabesques, the belt buckle dome-shaped, hanging from it a decorative chain with a round pendant, each plaque stamped '84' and 'TK', 81.5cm when open.
£300-£500
|
|
|
A PAINTED WOODEN WINDOW PANEL
Possibly Turkey, 20th century
Of rectangular shape, made of two main slabs of wood within a frame, the front decorated with bright colours depicting a stylised flower in the centre and green and white tufts of grass on the sides, the back plain and reinforced with iron strips and splices, 98cm x 48.5cm.
£180-£220
|
|
|
A PAIR OF PARCEL-GILT SPOON WARMERS
Ottoman Turkey, 19th century
Of deep cylindrical shape with wide ridged mouth, resting on a polylobed pierced foot with silver flower head appliqué, the connection between body and foot exquisitely decorated with a triumph of sculptural floral and animal silver wire work, 17cm high.
£800-£1,200
|
|
|
A PAIR OF IZMIR SILVER SPOON WARMERS
Ottoman Turkey, 19th century
Of cylindrical shape, resting on a circular base raised on four volute-shaped feet, with a wider neck and gently splayed rim, the body engraved with a continuous band of vegetal crowns with acorn to the centre, around the neck an appliqued festoon of rosettes and leafy tendrils, the rim and base engraved with lush palmettes, stamped on the base, 14cm high.
£600-£800
|
|
|
A PARCEL-GILT SILVER INCENSE BURNER
Ottoman Turkey, 19th century
Composed by a lobed circular tray, with two egg-shaped containers, worked in the round in spiralling designs, the appliqued decoration consisting of flower sprays, buds and leaves, each container marked 'sah' and with assay scratch, 14.8cm high.
£600-£800
|
|
|
AN OTTOMAN WHITE METAL ROSEWATER SPRINKLER
Ottoman Turkey, late 19th - early 20th century
Of typical shape, with bulbous body on a splayed foot, with an elongated tapering neck ending in a round finial, the body with repoussé crescent-shaped cartouches filled with floral bouquets and city views, the neck incised with cypress trees and floral banners, 32cm high.
£150-£200
|
|
|
TWO OTTOMAN ROSEWATER SPRINKLERS
Ottoman Turkey, 17th - 18th century
Comprising a gilt copper sprinkler, the pyriform body with tapering neck and engraved with vegetal sprays and rosettes, 19.7cm high; and a smaller one, made of tinned copper, engraved with vertical bands of split palmettes and plain ones, 14.5cm high.
£400-£600
|
|
|
THREE PAIRS OF GOLD-DAMASCENED STEEL CALLIGRAPHER'S SCISSORS
Ottoman Turkey and Iran, 19th century
Each of typical form with elongated blades, comprising two pairs of Ottoman scissors, with circular finger hoops, one pair terminating in stylised openwork inscription; and a pair of Iranian scissors, characterised by lean arms and oval finger hoops, each profusely decorated in gold with foliate interlace and scrollwork, the longest 27cm.
£800-£1,200
|
|
|
TWO SILVER FILIGREE CENSERS
Possibly Armenia, Ottoman Provinces, 18th century and later
Comprising a near pair of silver censers, the onion-shaped bodies made of filigree work with rosettes and interlocking vegetal tendrils and sprays, the filigree possibly a late 17th-18th century creation, one neck inscribed in Armenian characters, three hoops attached below the neck passed by three chains connecting the censers to hammered silver discs with large hoops, both stamped with Abdulhamid II's tughra (r. 1876 - 1909) and sah marks, approximately 29cm long.
£1,500-£2,000
|
|
|
A NIELLOED SILVER DRINKING VESSEL WITH A CUP
Possibly Georgia, Ottoman Caucasus, late 19th century
Comprising a drinking vessel with a drum-shaped body, standing on three lion paws feet with a long cylindrical spout, the body made of wood and decorated with nielloed silver fittings intricately engraved with vegetal motifs, calligraphy on the spout, and a myhtical lion against a lush vegetal ground on the body, 26.2cm high; and a cup, made of coconut, standing on three vegetal volutes, the rim with a nielloed silver floral band, the sinuous handle with a dove on the thumb rest, 8.6cm high.
£500-£700
|
|
|
A SILVER PEN-BOX (DIVIT)
Ottoman Turkey, 19th century
Of typical long rectangular form with faceted inkwell, with carved parcel-gilt floral bands on both ends, the inkwell's underside also parcel-gilt and engraved with scrolling floral sprays, each part marked with a coronet and the initials 'G. N', 28.5cm long.
For an very similar example, please see Christie's South Kensington, 7 October 2011, lot 515.
£800-£1,200
|
|
|
* A PARCEL-GILT SILVER FOOTED CUP
PROPERTY FROM AN IMPORTANT EUROPEAN PRIVATE COLLECTION
Possibly Armenia, Ottoman Provinces, 17th century
Of hemispherical shape, resting on a conical splayed foot, with reinforced rim, parcel gilt to the interior and exterior, the interior plain and decorated with a central flower-shaped boss, the exterior with oval cartouches engraved with paisley-leaf shaped trees filled with rosettes interspersed with vertical twirled columns, immediately below the rim an undeciphered inscription in Armenian characters, 6.5cm high.
£1,000-£1,500
|
|
|
A LARGE OTTOMAN HARDWOOD-PAINTED AND GILT TURBAN HOLDER
Ottoman Turkey, 18th century
Of typical polylobed shape, on the lower edge a volute supporting a flat lobed shelf, the European-inspired decoration consisting of a fruit triumph in the centre surmounted by a Renaissance style shell and more fruits on the upper edge, a floral festoon as finial, Westernised volutes on the lower edge below the shelf, the back plain with mounted hooks, approximately 91.8cm high.
£500-£700
|
|
|
AN OTTOMAN HARDWOOD-PAINTED AND GILT TURBAN HOLDER
Ottoman Turkey, 18th century
Of typical polylobed shape, on the lower edge a volute supporting a flat curved shelf, the European-inspired decoration consisting of a bow with a festoon of laurel leaves and stylised acanthus leaves on the upper edge, a stylised trophy as finial, pearl festoons on the lower edge below the shelf, the back plain with mounted hooks, 78.8cm high.
£400-£600
|
|
|
λ AN OCTAGONAL OCCASIONAL TABLE
Ottoman Provinces, 20th century
The top and sides with inlaid mother-of-pearl and bone in a geometric knot pattern, the base with long arches inlaid with scrolling arabesques, 44cm diameter of top, 66cm high.
£600-£800
|
|
|
λ AN OCCASIONAL TABLE WITH TUGHRA
Ottoman Provinces, late 19th - early 20th century
The ten-sided top inlaid with mother-of-pearl, stained wood, bone, and a painted resin with repeating geometric patterns around a stylised tughra and floral stem in the centre, the base with long arches and chevron inlays, 46cm diameter of top, 55cm high.
£500-£700
|
|
|
λ AN OCCASIONAL TABLE WITH STAR MOTIF
Ottoman Provinces, early 20th century
The ten-sided top inlaid in stained wood, mother-of-pearl, and tortoiseshell, with a circular radiating starburst within geometric outer borders, the base with long arches below diagonal black and white checkerboards, 49.5cm diameter of top, 60cm high.
£600-£800
|
|
|
λ A TALL MOTHER OF PEARL AND BONE-INLAID DISPLAY STAND
Ottoman Provinces, 19th - 20th century
Carved and inlaid in tiers, the top and base with auspicious greetings in stylised Arabic lettering, the body with stellar designs highlighted with mother-of-pearl, the middle section with mashrabiya grid in turned wood, the top 47cm square, 82cm high.
£200-£300
|
|
|
λ AN HEXAGONAL OCCASIONAL TABLE
Ottoman Provinces, 20th century
The dark wood inlaid with mother-of-pearl and bone highlights in a stellar kaleidoscopic pattern, the base with typical long arches, 45cm diameter of top, 61cm high.
£400-£600
|
|
|
A STAINED GLASS WINDOW SHUTTER WITH WOODEN FRAME
Jerusalem or Syria, 20th century
Of rectangular format, two lobed medallions filled with coloured stained glass mosaic in the shape of a flower head, the wooden frame with the typical mashrabiya grid made of small globular elements with connecting arms, with iron hinges on the side, 118.7cm x 53cm.
£150-£200
|
|
|
A SQUARE IZNIK POTTERY TILE
Ottoman Turkey, 17th century
Of square shape, the blue and turquoise painted decoration against white ground and consisting of a central stylised lotus flower flanked by a triumph of vegetal tendrils, rosettes, tulips and saz leaves, mounted, 24.3cm x 24.5cm.
£600-£800
|
|
|
A DAMASCUS POTTERY TILE
Ottoman Syria, 18th century
Of square shape, painted in underglaze blue, turquoise and black, the decoration against a white ground consisting of intertwined saz leaves in the centre and fragments of stylised lotus flowers on the edges, 24.5cm x 24.7cm.
£600-£800
|
|
|
A PAIR OF KANGXI BLUE AND WHITE PORCELAIN SPRINKLERS FOR THE OTTOMAN MARKET
China, 18th century
Of typical shape, with compressed pyriform body, resting on a splayed foot, the gourd-shaped neck tapering and ending in a small circular mouth, painted in cobalt blue pigment and covered with translucent glaze, the decoration on the body consisting of cusped cartouches of stylised lotus flowers and tendrils over a blue ground, prunus blossom branches on the neck, four-petal flower heads on the foot and at the base of the neck, unmarked base, 18.8cm high.
£500-£700
|
|
|
TWO KUTAHYA POTTERY ROSEWATER SPRINKLERS AND A SMALL EWER
Ottoman Turkey, 18th and 19th century
Comprising two rosewater sprinklers, of similar pyriform shape, on small circular splayed foot, with tapering neck, one with underglaze polychrome-painted abstract and vegetal decoration, the latter with underglaze blue-painted floral decoration and a later added brass mounting, the tallest 19.5cm high; and a small blue and white jug, the 18th-century body decorated with underglaze blue-painted tufts of green, with later brass mountings and encrusted with red and green stones, 17.2cm high.
£800-£1,200
|
|
|
AN EGYPTIAN TOPHANE POTTERY FOOT SCRATCHER AND A COFFEE POT
Asyut, Egypt, 19th century
Comprising a crocodile-shaped foot scratcher, the body naturalistically worked and carved with realistic ridges, the base of cross-hatched rough unglazed terracotta, 21.5cm long; and a coffee pot, of typical globular shape, on a circular plain base, with tall neck and domed lid, curved handle to the side and beak-shaped spout, 18.5cm high.
£400-£600
|
|
|
A CANAKKALE POTTERY DRUM
PROPERTY FROM THE THEO SARMAS COLLECTION
Ottoman Turkey or Provinces, early 20th century
Of traditional shape, the globular body resting on a tall conical foot, stepped to the edge, the circular mouth still covered with the original leather, the body with moulded decoration near the mouth consisting of a band of stylised rosettes and diagonal spiralling bands, towards the foot three V-shaped moulded vegetal festoons, painted in copper green at the top and on the foot's edge, with a later rope used as shoulder strap, 55cm high.
Provenance: Theo Sarmas collection in London since early 1960s.
Of clear ethnographic interest, this drum is a rare and unusual survivor of the early 20th-century Canakkale pottery production. Taking its distance from other well-known Turkish ceramic manufactures producing the sought-after examples of polychrome painted and glazed Iznik and Kutahya ceramics, Canakkale pottery celebrates the rough simplicity and characteristic Turkish folklore of villages and rural areas. Drums were central instruments in folk celebrations and in special ceremonies and it is likely to believe that their shapes remained rather unvaried through time. Only one other example is known and it is preserved at the Folk Art Museum in Istanbul. It shouldn't surprise us that such an unusual and rare ethnographic artwork was part of Theo Sarmas collection. His interest in and eclectic taste for folklore art and customs would have probably made him fall in love immediately with this drum, acting as a reminder of those celebrations and merry moments so crucial in the lives of villagers and fishermen.
For further information on this lot please see the catalogue online.
£500-£700
|
|
|
AN OTTOMAN CARVED MARBLE TURBAN
Ottoman Turkey, 19th century
Carved in the round, the base characterised by the turban's fine diagonal folds and surmounted by a tall cylindrical top with facets, the shape usually associated with high Ottoman dignitaries, the interior carved out, 22.5cm high.
£500-£700
|
|
|
A PAIR OF EGYPTIAN-REVIVAL SILVER-INLAID COPPER VASES
Possibly Egypt or Syria, 20th century
Both of typical shape, with a bulbous body rising from a flat plain base to a circular reinforced rim, the exterior decoration consisting of a multitude of silver-inlaid figural bands inspired from ancient Egyptian painted panels with sphinxes, pyramids, pharaohs, ancient Egyptian Gods, apotropaic animals, warriors, farmers, fishermen, merchants, and stylised hieroglyphs, approximately 31.7cm high.
£200-£300
|
|
|
A LARGE SILVER-INLAID COPPER TRAY
Ottoman Provinces, 20th century
Of circular shape, with a slightly flared rim, the shallow vessel engraved with a central calligraphic composition in tughra style, against a ground of stylised split palmette scrolls, the border with lobed cartouches containing salutations, 51cm diameter.
£200-£300
|
|
|
FOUR SMALL MAMLUK-REVIVAL SILVER BOWLS
Egypt, 20th century
Of circular shape, on a flat plain base, with reinforced rim, the interior engraved as a triumph of Mamluk revival designs such as intricate arabesque roundels, thuluth calligraphic cartouches, geometrically designed six-pointed stars all against Y-shaped pattern ground and concentric bands of fretwork, the exterior with medallions of split palmettes, the centre of each bowl stamped '900' and 'BE', each 12.5cm diam.
£100-£150
|
|
