Large dervish headdress holder - Lot 206

Large dervish headdress holder Partially lacquered and gilded wood; wood, mother-of-pearl, tortoiseshell and ivory marquetry, with gilded copper mounts, covered inside with green velvet Turkey, Istanbul, 18th century Headdress holder: H. 26.5 cm Cabinet: H. 37.2 cm Cabinet weight: 4.310kg This Sikke-type dervish headdress holder is made of wood, cylindrical in shape, with the lower half decorated with a lacquered pattern of fine arabesques and gilded floral motifs on a red background. It rests on a green-lacquered pentagonal base, each side of which features a line of cursive calligraphy in nasta'liq inscribed in gold letters. These are verses taken from a poem by Mahtumi Vahidi (d.1732), notably the phrase destar gibi başım üstünde yerin var ("Like the turban, your place is above my head"). It is presented in a precious octagonal Ottoman box, decorated with mother-of-pearl, tortoiseshell and ivory inlays. Panels of symmetrical Baroque-style floral motifs alternate with panels of interlocking geometric motifs. The interior, lined with green fabric, is revealed by a canted hinged door with gilded copper hinges. CITES certificate issued 21/11/2023