Austrian or South German, circa 1700

Private collection, London, United Kingdom

Overall the condition of the cutlery is good with dirt and wear to the surface consistent with age. There are a few very small chips and abrasions to the ivory, including to some of the noses. There is minor stable splitting to the ivory consistent with material. Sections of a few of the handles are carved separately and joints are visible, notably to the large carving knife. There is some minor oxidation to the steel consistent with material. There is wear to the leather case consistent with age, including some splitting. The mount for the support holding in the right side of cutlery is lost and the clasps of the box are also lost. The case should be handled with care.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

This charming early 18th-century set of cutlery with ivory handles carved in the form of Turks wearing turbans is very rare for, not only is it complete, it is contained within its original leather bound case. Interest in the Orient flourished in Austria and Southern German after the Battle of Vienna in 1683, at which the armies of the Holy Roman Empire found themselves having to defend their Imperial capital, Vienna, against Ottoman forces led by Grand Vizier Merzifonlu Kara Mustafa Pasha. Despite an Austrian victory, the image of exotic Turkish tents pitched outside the gates of Vienna etched itself onto the cultural memory of the German speaking peoples.

Given its exotic connotations, ivory would have been a natural choice of material for a set of cutlery featuring stylised busts of Turks. Ivory had been used for expensive cutlery sets throughout the 17th century, with examples being found in kunstkammern (cabinets of curiosity) across Europe. Note, for example, the two German 17th-century ivory knife handles with brawling putti from the kunstkammer of the Margraves of Baden-Baden published by Marquardt (op. cit., pp. 124-125, no. 395). Knife and fork handles with Turks appear to be rare. However, there are some comparable examples (with similar cutlers marks) in the Bayerisches Nationalmuseum, Munich, which were catalogued by Berliner as South Indian or Ceylonese, 17th/ 18th century (op. cit., nos. 333-334, p. 82). Their present location and their European metalwork might indicate that these are, in fact, German or Austrian. The handles exhibit similarly stylised figures sporting large turbans and moustaches as those seen in the present set. There is also a South German, early 18th-century, ivory walking stick handle in the Bayerisches Nationalmuseum carved with the head of a Turk (op. cit., no. 495, p. 105).

RELATED LITERATURE
R. Berliner, Die bildwerke des Bayerischen Nationalmuseums. Die bildwerke in elfenbein, knochen, hirsch- und steinbockhorn mit einem angange: elfenbeinarbeiten der Staatlichen Schlossmuseen in Bayern, Munich, 1926, pp. 82, 105, nos. 333-334, 495; K. Marquardt, Eight Centuries of European Knives, Forks and Spoons. An Art Collection, Stuttgart, 1997, pp. 124-125, no. 395