Exquisite Ottoman Silver-Gilt, Gold and Enamelled Asurelik

Exquisite Ottoman Silver-Gilt, Gold and Enamelled Asurelik.

Ottoman Empire.

Early 19^th Century.

Height: 27.6cm.

With bulbous body, the surface with a dark blue enamel layer worked with green enamel and gold arabesques, with medallions featuring painted floral bouquets, gold borders set with pearl-like white enamel dots, elaborately carved handle decorated en-suite.

The present asurelik is a rare and extremely fine example of Ottoman manufactured enamelwork of the early nineteenth century, indicating the European influence on Ottoman taste. The origin of late Ottoman enamels is unclear, but it is known that many enamelworks were invited from Central and Northern Europe. Glass presents the most analogous art form with which to compare the creation of Ottoman enamelwork pieces, both reflective of the cultural exchange between the Ottoman Empire and its neighbours.

The fabrication of enamel consists of crushing glass and applying it to the surface using a binder. The glass is then once again fired so that the crushed glass fuses to the surface by heating the enamel just to the extent of melting to the surface without re-melting it (Annales du 18e congrès de l’association internationale pour l’histoire du verre, pp.469-489). The use of this technique by Ottoman craftsmen led them to produce artefacts which could compete against the European imports made for the Middle Eastern market and even surpass them.

Just as Ottoman glassmakers crafted heavily-adorned, sophisticated and challenging objects such as flower vases, kettles, candlesticks, bowls and sweets containers, created to impress their noble of patrons, similar examples exist in enamel. The Topkapi Palace treasury has ornately decorated enamel objects that resemble the present example. For a very similar ewer (inv. no.1886), dated to the 19^th century, please see, The Topkapi Saray Museum: The Treasury, ed. J.M. Rogers, C. Köseoğlu, Thames and Hudson, 1987, entry p. 204, illustration no. 98.

The painted design is associated with the painted porcelains made at the Imperial factory in Istanbul in the mid-19^th century. Further comparable enamelled courtly objects in the Topkapi Palace treasury include: a dessert service which includes a tray, two covered cups, a pot and three spoons (inv. no.7600), a rose-water flask (inv. no.3501), and a writing set (inv. nos.2/769/778). See, ibid., entries pp. 203, 205, illustrations nos. 96, 97 and 113. For further examples see Istanbul: The City and the Sultan, exhibition catalogue, De Nieuwe Kerk, Amsterdam, 2006, p.108, no.136. and p.128, no. 183.

Price on application

This object is eligible for a Certificate of BADA Provenance