AN OTTOMAN CARVED WOOD PANEL DEPICTING THE IMPERIAL COAT OF ARMS OF SULTAN ABDULHAMID II (R.1876-1909), TURKEY, LATE 19TH CENTURY |

carved in high relief, featuring the imperial coat of arms of Sultan Abdulhamid II, crowned by his tughra, with symbolic arrows, flags and weapons for the army and navy, books and scales, in wooden frame with suspension hook

The wood with some vertical cracks, notably along left-hand side, and remnants of woodworm damage, some dirt within interstices, small breaks to extremities (particularly the left-hand side flag finial), some wear consistent with age, as viewed.
"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."

Dating back to the thirteenth century, each Sultan of the Ottoman Empire had a distinct monogram known as tughra, a calligraphic emblem which became a symbol of the state and evolved over time. Tughra stamps were used on a variety of objects such as coins and official correspondence in order to guarantee authenticity. Some tughras were also placed above entrances of palatial chambers and on ships of the Ottoman naval forces, often carved on wood. Similar examples are preserved in Istanbul’s Naval Museum. Sultan Abdulhamid II, a master carpenter, produced a comparable imperial coat of arms located in the main reading room of the Rare Manuscripts Library of the Istanbul University. Founded by him, the library was originally located in the Yildiz Palace, and later moved to the Istanbul University Library at Atatürk’s order. It is possible that this work was produced in the Yildiz palace workshops under his guidance.