Album of 20 Turkish costume watercolours, 19th century, 4to, red morocco

Property of a Gentleman

OTTOMAN COSTUME

Album of twenty costume watercolours, with a notable provenance. [c. 1839]

4to (225 x 182mm.), 20 watercolours of Ottoman costume (176 x 131mm.) captioned ink and mounted on paper, recto and verso, together with other unrelated botanical watercolours, prints and drawings (some loose), blank leaves watermarked 'J Whatman 1829', contemporary red morocco gilt, some stains, binding slightly worn

Baldwin Wake Walker, who compiled this album, served in the Turkish Navy, 1838-1845, where he was known as Yavir Pasha, and distinguished himself at the capture of Acre in November 1840. On his return to England Walker served as Surveyor of the Navy (1848-61), was created a baronet in 1856, and promoted to Admiral in 1870. The watercolours depict Sultan Mahmud II (1785-1839) in old and new costume, his son, members of his court, military figures and other male and female dress.

These drawings show similar characteristics to other collections of costume drawings sold in these rooms: 15 May 2018, lot 281 (91 drawings); 4 November 2010, lot 96 (161 drawings); 28 May 2002, lot 298 (50 drawings).

LITERATURE:

cf. Atabey 292

PROVENANCE:

Admiral Sir Baldwin Wake Walker (1802-1876), bookplate; thence by family descent to the present owner