01 Nov
Project Description
Description: 10.8cm acrossCatalogue note: On three paw feet, engraved with foliate scrolls, the jade panel with interlocking tendrils with serrated leaves bearing rose-cut diamonds, rubies and emeralds.Jade (yashm) was a material highly-prized for the Turkmen tribes for its prophylactic, talismanic and visual qualities. The technique of decorating objects with hardstones and gems set within floral mounts with gold and silver tendrils is characteristic of the Ottoman aesthetic. From the sixteenth century, the Ottomans decorated jewellery, weapons and vessels in this manner. A bracelet which sold in these Rooms, 16 October 2001, lot 262 demonstrates the technique. Weapons and horse trappings received similar treatment, as seen on a dagger and saddle published by Kürkman (1996, p.136-37). The above-mentioned examples mostly date to the seventeenth century, suggesting a similar date for the lid of our box.It is clear that our box was assembled into its current form at a later stage, probably in the nineteenth century. The later silver body has been delicately engraved with European motifs. It is possible to assume that the lid was originally part of an Ottoman box before being re-mounted. Gem-studded objects similar to our box circulated among the Ottoman elite as gifts, along with high value objects such as Chinese blue-and-white porcelain and celadons, which were also sometimes studded with gems (Los Angeles, 2011, pp.156-57). A magnificent collection of such objects is currently housed and on display in the Topkapi Saray Museum (Istanbul, 2010, pp. 273-93).A closely related box and mirror with similar jade and hardstone panels was sold at Sotheby’s, 7 October 2009, lot 192 and 7 October 2015, lot 414. A further comparable gem-set Ottoman box, with denser designs was sold in these Rooms, 8 October 2015, lot 90.
Provenance: Acquired from Christie’s, Sale 17177, Lot 179, Invoice no. DB19007237
Catalogue no.: 2019A0208