Lot 108: OTTOMAN SCHOOL, 16TH CENTURY, 'THE TUGHRA OF SULTAN SULEIMAN THE MAGNIFICENT'.
1 view
This artwork is an illuminated Ottoman Imperial Tughra, identified by its visual composition and decorative motifs as the personal monogram of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent (reigned 1520–1566). The calligraphy is executed in ink and enriched with gold leaf and polychrome pigments on a single paper support. The tughra contains the standard elements of the imperial insignia, featuring three tall vertical shafts (tug) and two concentric loops (beyze) on the left-hand side. The inner loop is finely decorated with a green ground and gold foliate arabesque motifs. The calligraphy is surrounded by elaborate floral and foliate scrollwork illumination, known as tezhip, rendered in shades of blue, red, and gold. This decorative work extends upwards behind the vertical shafts into a large, triangular field of delicate scrolling patterns.
Approximately 50.8 x 50.5cm
Condition report:
The paper support shows significant irregular loss and tearing along the entire right-hand margin. There is evident age-related yellowing and foxing across the sheet. Multiple horizontal and vertical creases are visible throughout the composition. Minor rubbing to the pigment and gold leaf is present in some areas of the illumination.
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