Hi everyone,
I’m hoping someone with experience in Ottoman/Turkish or Middle Eastern silver may be able to help me identify the hallmarks on this small condiment/cruet set.
I have attached photos of the complete set as well as the clearest macro photographs I can get of the marks.
The set consists of:
• Ornately decorated handled tray – approx. 16 × 5.5 cm
• Two taller condiment pots – approx. 5 × 2.5 cm each
• One wider centre pot – approx. 3.3 × 3.5 cm
• Small spoon – approx. 6 × 1 cm
• Removable glass liners
• Two domed covers, including one perforated shaker-style cover
The centre pot also came with a lid, however I believe this lid is a later replacement and not original to the set, so I have not included it in the measurements.
WEIGHTS
Total assembled weight including the glass liners is approximately 98 g.
I removed the glass liners and weighed the metal components separately. The total metal-only weight is approximately 62 g.
The tray alone weighs approximately 30 g.
The entire metal set is non-magnetic.
HALLMARKS
Several of the pieces have small punched marks. I originally had difficulty interpreting them because they are quite worn.
After taking macro photographs, I wondered whether the larger mark might possibly be an Ottoman tughra, with the smaller marks potentially relating to the assay/fineness system.
One possibility suggested to me is that one of the marks may represent the Ottoman 90 ayar / .900 silver standard, with another possibly being a sah/control mark.
However, I do NOT want to assume this identification is correct, which is why I would really appreciate an independent opinion from people familiar with these marks.
The tray also has a small worn mark beneath/near one of the ornate handles, and similar marks appear on more than one of the condiment vessels.
The tiny spoon has a separate mark which may read something like A.S/A•S, so I am also unsure whether the spoon was originally part of the set.
CONSTRUCTION / CONDITION
The set has very detailed embossed/chased foliate decoration which looks to me like stylised lotus/palmette/papyrus-type motifs, with beaded borders and ornate handles.
There is age-related tarnish and some green verdigris/copper-type corrosion around some of the inner rims/seams.
I have deliberately avoided aggressive polishing or cleaning.
WHAT I WOULD LOVE TO ESTABLISH
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Are these genuine Ottoman Turkish silver hallmarks?
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Is the large mark actually a Sultan’s tughra?
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If so, is there enough remaining detail to identify which Sultan/reign the tughra belongs to?
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Does one of the accompanying marks represent 90 ayar / .900 silver?
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Is the smaller mark a sah/control/assay mark?
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Is it possible to estimate a production date from the hallmark combination?
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Does the mark on the tray appear consistent with those on the condiment vessels?
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Does anyone recognise the mark on the spoon, and does it appear contemporary with the rest of the set?
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Is there anything about the construction or hallmarks that would suggest these are later reproduction/pseudo-marks rather than genuine Ottoman assay marks?
I am in Australia and am also planning to have the individual metal components XRF tested so I can independently establish their silver content. I will update the post with the results when I have them.
Any help identifying or dating the marks would be greatly appreciated. I’m particularly interested in understanding exactly what each punch represents rather than simply assuming it is .900 silver.
Thank you!
