The Ottoman Recollections

The Ottoman Empire, 13th to 20th century, was one of the largest and longest lived in history.
This collection draws on vintage and modern elements from all over the empire at its greatest extent in the 17th Century, from the gates of Vienna to the shores of the Persian Gulf, the Red Sea and the Mediterranean. It brings to mind the Palaces, Harems and Hammams of the Sultans and their courts and the women who lived along the Bosphorus.
A Collection commissioned by the Freer Sackler Museum Shop to accompany the Smithsonian Qur’an exhibition in Washington DC and presented in the Museum Shop.
Each piece is unique, and the collection limited to 50 numbered pieces.

La collection « Souvenirs Ottoman »

L’Empire Ottoman, du 13ème au 20ème siècle, fut l’un des plus étendus et des plus longs de l’histoire. Cette collection est basée sur des perles provenant de toutes les régions de l’Empire à son apogée au 17ème siècle, depuis les portes de Vienne jusqu’aux rivages du Golfe Persique, de la Mer Rouge et de la Méditerranée. Elle évoque les palais, les sérails, hammams des Sultans, et les femmes qui vivaient le long du Bosphore.
Collection de pièces uniques, commanditée pour accompagner l’exposition sur le Coran du Musée Freer Sackler Smithsonian Institute, Washington DC et présentée dans la Boutique du Musée.

OR 5 : STB
In this piece, a 19th century earring is combined with stone beads, imported to the Istanbul Grand Bazaar from China, and silk tassels, hand crafted by Greek artisans, following the centuries old tradition of passementerie, that is slowly disappearing as tastes have evolved from the 18 and 19th century when such elements were an essential part of costumes and indoor furniture.

OR 7 : DI
This unique piece, combines a vintage copper, silver and turquoise pendant, with a mosque engraved on its back, with modern silver and turquoise beads from the Istanbul Grand Bazaar.

OR 9 : LI
This piece combines a large silver vintage bead and traditional bell and leaf shaped elements from Syria, red wooden and glass modern beads from Hungary and silk tassels. These are hand crafted by Greek artisans, following the centuries old tradition of passementerie, that is now slowly disappearing as tastes have evolved from the 18 and 19th century when such elements were an essential part of costumes and indoor furniture. The silver piece at the back is a 19th century belt element.

OR 12 : DI
This unique piece combines vintage silver and brass elements from Syrian nomad jewelry, modern glass beads from India and Africa, and amethyst beads from Afghanistan; all from the Bazaars of Istanbul as in the days of the Ottoman Empire and the Silk Road. The silk tassels are hand crafted by Greek artisans, following the centuries old tradition of passementerie, that is slowly disappearing as tastes have evolved from the 18 and 19th century when such elements were an essential part of costumes and indoor furniture.

OR 10 : DI
This unique piece combines a 19th century silver watch chain with an early 20th century silver piece initially part of a Muslim rosary and a modern Murano glass pendant as Venetians were key trading partners of the Ottoman Empire.

OR 16 : DI
This unique piece comprises a vintage crochet piece, a traditional handmade element adorning head scarves and shawls in Anatolia, wooden beads from Hungary and glass beads imported from India to the Istanbul Grand Bazaar.

OR 19 : GB
Central element : Ottoman Silver belt buckle. late 19th or early 20th century
Silver beads : Modern, from Istanbul silversmiths
Grey Pearls and stones : Modern, from India. Pearl and semi-precious stones were highly prized by the Sultan and his courts. At the time, they were mostly imported from India and Afghanistan.
Mounted on a modern silver chain, from Istanbul silversmith

OR 22 : LB
Central piece : Handcrafted modern silver pendant, reproducing traditional Egyptian Muslim designs.
Mother of pearl elements : Mid-20th century buttons sourced in Vienna Flea markets.

OR 25 : DI
Pearls and amethysts, similar to those imported into Istanbul in Ottoman times, are combined with elements from an early 20th century chandelier from Bulgaria. The central silk tassel is, hand crafted by Greek artisans, following the centuries old tradition of passementerie that is slowly disappearing as tastes have evolved from the 18 and 19th century when such elements were an essential part of costumes and indoor furniture.

OR 30 : UB
This piece combines Ottoman silver mounted pendants, with an early 20th century silver mounted moonstone and semi-precious stones and glass beads from India. It is mounted on a modern silver chain and clasp from Istanbul workshops.

OR 29 : SNB
This vintage Silver pendant, is engraved with a protective Surat and mounted on a modern Indian silver chain.

OR 3 : DI
In this unique piece, vintage traditional metal elements are combined with seeds called ‘Jacobs Tears', from Egypt, wooden and red glass beads from Hungary and silk tassels. The tassels are hand crafted by Greek artisans following the centuries old tradition of “passementerie”, that is now slowly disappearing as tastes have evolved from the 18 and 19th century when such elements were an essential part of costumes and indoor furniture.

OR 2 : SSI
This unique piece combines a 19th century silver and turquoise 19th century Ottoman earring with small silver pendants that are traditional mid-20th century jewelry from Anatolia, and modern glass beads imported to the Istanbul Grand Bazaar from India.

OR 8 : GB
This unique piece, held on a modern double silver chain, combines an early 20th century silver piece that formed part of a Muslim rosary with silver elements of traditional Syrian nomadic jewelry and glass elements from a mid-20th century Bulgarian chandelier.

OR 14 : DB
This unique piece, with a double modern silver chain from Istanbul workshops, combines an early 20th century silver mounted agate engraved with a Surah, and silver and brass small elements from vintage traditional nomadic jewelry of Anatolia and Egypt.

OR 15 : DI
This unique piece combines modern silver ring, mirroring 19th century men's silver ring, used for falconry, with a silver chain and a silk ruff. Such ruffs are hand crafted by Greek artisans, following the centuries old tradition of passementerie, that is slowly disappearing as tastes have evolved from the 18 and 19th century when such elements were an essential part of costumes and indoor furniture.

OR 18 : GB
Central Element : Part of an Ottoman belt, late 19th or early 20th century
Silver beads : Modern, from Istanbul silversmiths
Grey Pearls and stones : Modern, from India
Mounted on a modern silver chain, from Istanbul silversmiths.

OR 23 : DI
Mid-20th century silver pendants are combined with silk tassels, hand crafted by Greek artisans, following the centuries old tradition of passementerie that is slowly disappearing as tastes have evolved from the 18 and 19th century when such elements were an essential part of costumes and indoor furniture.
Mounted on rubber, with a modern silver clasp.

OR 26 : GB
Elements of an early 20th century chandelier from Bulgaria are combined with silk tassels and traditional silver tubular beads from eastern Anatolia.
Such silk tassels are hand crafted by Greek artisans, following the centuries old tradition of passementerie that is slowly disappearing as tastes have evolved from the 18 and 19th century when such elements were an essential part of costumes and indoor furniture.

OR 31: Dl
Central Pendant : Mid-20th century handcrafted metal and glass ornament, part of a large neck ornament worn by nomad women from Afghanistan to Anatolia and Syria.
Silk Tassels : Mounted on a rubber cord, with a silver clasp in the back, crafted in Istanbul silversmith workshops.

OR 21 : SII
Central element : Ottoman pendant, silver and carnelian, engraved with a Surah from the Qoran. Late 19th century to early 20th century.
Silver chain and silver pendants : Modern, from Istanbul silversmiths
Drop-shaped stone beads : Modern elements, from India. Semi-precious stones were highly prized by the Sultan and his courts. At the time, they were mostly imported from India and Afghanistan.

OR 1 : SBI
The Ottoman Empire, 13th to 20th century, was one of the largest and longest lived in history. This collection draws on vintage and modern elements from all over the empire at its greatest extent in the 17th Century, from the gates of Vienna to the shores of the Persian Gulf, the Red Sea and the Mediterranean. It brings to mind the Palaces, Harems and Hammams of the Sultans and their courts and the women who lived along the Bosphorus.In this unique piece, mounted on leather, 19th century silver hair ornaments and an earring are combined with modern pearls that are similar to those that were imported to the Sultan's court from India.

OR 6 : LI
In this piece, held on a modern silver chain combines a vintage nomadic Anatolian element with silk tassels, hand crafted by Greek artisans, following the centuries old tradition of passementerie, that is slowly disappearing as tastes have evolved from the 18 and 19th century when such elements were an essential part of costumes and indoor furniture.

OR 4: GB
In this unique piece, vintage traditional metal elements of Syrian jewelry, are combined with modern wooden beads from Hungary, crochet flowers from Anatolia and silk tassels. The tassels are hand crafted by Greek artisans following the centuries old tradition of passementerie, that is now slowly disappearing as tastes have evolved from the 18 and 19th century when such elements were an essential part of costumes and indoor furniture.

OR 11 : UI
This unique piece combines an early 20th century amber pendant with vintage silver and brass elements from Syrian nomad jewelry, seed beads from Egypt, modern glass orange beads imported from India to the Istanbul Bazaars and two silk tassels. The tassels are hand crafted by Greek artisans, following the centuries old tradition of passementerie, that is slowly disappearing as tastes have evolved from the 18 and 19th century when such elements were an essential part of costumes and indoor furniture.

OR 13 : DI
This unique piece combines a vintage ottoman copper earring with wooden beads from Bulgaria, a crochet flower, traditionally used to decorate shawls and head scarves in Anatolia and modern orange glass beads, imported from Africa to the Istanbul Grand Bazaar, as in the days of the Ottoman Empire.

OR 20 : DI
Central Element : Ottoman pendant, silver and carnelian, engraved with a Sourate from the Qoran. Late 19th century to early 20th century.
Pearls and garnet : Modern elements, from India
Pearl and semi-precious stones were highly prized by the Sultan and his courts. At the time, they were mostly imported from India and Afghanistan.
Silver chain and silver beads : Modern, from Istanbul silversmiths.

OR 17 : BB
Leaf-shaped and round silver alloy elements : These pieces were elements of part of necklaces worn by nomad women in south-eastern Turkey, north-eastern Syria and Iraq. The leaf shape, a traditional design already present in the Persian Empire, is found throughout the Ottoman area and is still popular today
Red seeds : modern, sourced in the Bazaars of Cairo, are originally from West Africa.

OR 24 : LI
Modern pearls and garnet, similar to those imported into Istanbul in Ottoman times, are combined with a pendant from an early 20th century chandelier from Bulgaria.

OR 28 : SNB
This vintage Silver and Carnelian pendant is mounted, upside down, with modern Indian pearls, on a silver chain of the same period.

OR 27 : SNB
This vintage Silver whistle is mounted on a silver watch chain of the same period.

OR 32 : TB
These earrings combine modern silver elements and handmade crocheted flowers, traditionally sown onto the border of shawls and head covers.