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Antique Ottoman prayer holder

This fabulous piece is showcasing workmanship from nowaday turkish town of Safranbolu, former Saphrampolis. Green enamel over gilt silver with carved coral cabs. I have only seen this workmanship applied on the celebrated old belt buckles never on a prayer holder. A concentration of skills on this very elaborate jewel which might very well date back to early 19th century
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Comments

  • Wow, Alaa - this is gorgeous! What a find. Congratulations.

  • Dear Ala'a; WOW, a gorgeous piece indeed! One can only imagine how this must have looked with all dangles, etc. in place. Safranbolu was famous for their silver works, similar to Van for their Niello works. Next time in Turkey, I should make it a point to visit the city, however, I have been told that there are not much pieces left there... unfortunately. Congratulations and Regards. Peter 

  • This is very special! Wonderful! never seen this before .I think there is missing a part?

  • A total delight!
    Can anyone tell me - is all coral that is striated in this fashion ottoman coral.
    Quite frequently I see such coral described in pieces described as english georgian. Of course that doesn`t exclude it being ottoman.

  • Thanx everybody.

    @Frankie,

    So far striated coral set in cabs, i have only seen it applied on ottoman belt buckles and while i am aware of georgian striated coral, i have yet to see them in cabs for they always come in loose beads or strands...

    The advanced age of such coral jeweled jewels (buckles and the holder i am posting) does fit with the georgian era though...late 18th century to early 19 th century, and for once i would not rule out a transeuropean fashion during neoclassisim times that spread through the continent as happened with many other fashions...it also conincides with advanced stages of decline of a crumbling ottoman empire which was no longer producing artistic and technic trends and was already a massive net importer of everything European from as far away as England to Russia and through the then very brilliant central european courts!

  • A E, now I think I was mistaken. If one makes a google image search for "georgian coral brooch", one sees a number of little brooches with carved cabs. But not carved in the Ottoman way. So I think my memory was playing tricks on me.

  • It is spectacular, a master work.  Congratulations!

    Regarding the coral, I have seen the striated coral applied to a bracelet which was obviously part of the same tradition of metal-working.  However, I felt the work was inferior and I didn't buy it.  Just another clue that they made a range of jewelry at Saphrampolis. 

    I would be very tempted to try to have the missing part made by a silversmith. 

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