Ottoman inlaid walnut table

Mother of Pearl Inlaid Walnut Table

Decagonal top strikingly inlaid with ebony and mother of pearl banding and chequered stringing to wide band of mother of pearl and ebony inlay. Central circle of mother of pearl mosaic inlay inset with the tughra emblem. The frieze below with bold mosaic panels of ebony and mother of pearl diamonds over arched heads extending to form the legs. Syrian, Damascus, circa 1900

The ottoman tughra is a calligraphic insignia or seal used by the reigning sultan and included in official documents, and objects of all types and were meant to be recognized, rather than read completely. They include three vertical shafts and two concentric oval loops to the left. These undulating forms include the name of the reigning sultan, the name of his father, and the phrase "the eternally victorious”. The tughra finally fell out of use in the early 20th century, at the end of the Ottoman Empire. Nonetheless, for nearly one thousand years this seal served as the same kind of visual identity as modern-day logos.

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This object is eligible for a Certificate of BADA Provenance

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