Ottoman Süleymaniye Ware, An Extremely Rare Süleymaniye Ware Enamelled Lidded Hanging Church or Mosque Incense Burner In The Form Of A Hanging Ceramic Egg, The Ottoman Empire Istanbul-Turkey, Circa 1800.
During the 18th century various Ottoman provinces mainly in the city of Istanbul and other sites such as Kayseri, Damascus and other Greek and Armenian cities were producing various copper objects such as covered dishes and bowls, cup-stands and snuff boxes etc. and they were frequently gilded and decorated with additional polychrome enamelling.
Potentially the main high quality workshop in which European style of enamelware production took place was in the vicinity of the Süleymaniye mosque in Istanbul, therefore this type of European style of enamelware became well known as “Süleymaniye work”.
Then these objects reflected the growing desire within the higher Ottoman social circles to own and emulate European tableware.
This piece is distinctive for its lively yellow colour and potentially was emitting similar European enamelled metal work or porcelain which was mainly commissioned by the Ottoman elite and by the Ottoman Royal household in Istanbul and were produced at the major porcelain workshops in Europe such as in the cities on Meissen-Germany, Vienna-Austria and Paris-France.
Besides the main yellow enamelling on the outside of this object and the white enamelling of the inside parts of the burner, the exterior parts were decorated in gold with petal designs, leafy sprays and with the fish scale representing the fashions of the day, the burner is also attached by three copper-gilt chains linking to a suspension loop where the burner can easily be held or hang.
Dimensions
64.6 cm the height including the chains.
Condition
Very good with signs of later repair around the copper-gilt (Tombac) Crescent-Moon shaped finial, this might also suggest that potentially there was a different finial such as a crucifix that had been removed and replaced with the current finial.
Provence
The European Art Market
References
For other very high quality Ottoman Süleymaniye Ware,
Enamelled & Jewelled Objects from the Saderk Hanim Museum Collection By Hulya Bailgi & Idil Zanbak, ISBN 978-975-6959-95-4, Istanbul, 2015.
please see lots 017, 018, 019, 020, 021, 022, 023 & 024 illustrated on pages 98 – 107.
For other Ottoman Süleymaniye Ware pieces please see the following:
Sotheby’s London, Lot 335, An Ottoman Suleymaniye-ware enamelled dish and cover (sahan), Turkey, late 18th century, 06 October 2010.
Sotheby’s London, Lot 271, An Ottoman Suleymaniye-ware enamelled dish and cover (sahan), late 18th century, 24 April 2013.
Christie’s London, Lot 76 A Süleymaniye Ware Enamelled Covered Dish, 10 October 2006.
Christie’s London, Lot 380 A Suleymaniye Ware Coffee Pot, 11 April 2014.
For A similar 18th Century Kutahya Hanging Ceramic Egg shaped Ornament that was widely used in the existing churches in the Ottoman Empire and the Holy Lands please see:-
Switzerland Arminia, Musée Des Suisses Dans Le Monde, The Kalfayan Collection, On the Path Of Memory, Foundation Armenia Genève, Please see the 18th. Century Kutahya pottery Yellow ceramic egg shaped decorative element and other examples lot identification Nos. 35-49 catalogued in pages 124-130.
Please other 18th. Century Kutahya Ceramic egg shaped decorative elements please see the collection of the Armenian Museum of America, Art Culture Eternity.
For other ceramic egg shaped hanging ornaments please see Bonhams Auction House, Islamic & Indian Art Sale on the 2nd. of April 2009, London Bond Street, please see sold lot Number 94.
Related Antiques
Armenian Art, A Rare and Beautiful Armenian Repousse Silver Incense Burner, 18TH. -19TH. Century.
