An exceptional and large Ottoman scribe's desk
An exceptional and large Ottoman scribe's desk
6112
Of rectangular form on four bracket feet. Made of olivewood inlaid with kundekari decoration of tortoiseshell, mother-of-pearl, ivory, bone and metal wire in geometric designs. A single central drawer subdivided into three sections.
Constantinople, Turkey, circa 1700
Provenance: Sir Richard Ashton Beaumont (1912-2009) - knight, diplomat and Arabist; thence by descent
Condition: The desk was sensitively conserved in the early 2000s. One missing slip of ivory stringing to the front
Ivory Act submission reference: BBP81CGH
An identical desk is in the British Museum, inv. no. 1991,0717.2 though their example has been later adapted to include a mirror and satin lining. Originally designed for the use of a scholar or calligrapher, the surface served as a desk and the drawer for books and writing ephemera.
Dimensions:
RELATED ITEMS
 - knight, diplomat and Arabist; thence by descentCondition: The desk was sensitively conserved in the early 2000s. One missing slip of ivory stringing to the frontIvory Act submission reference: BBP81CGHAn identical desk is in the British Museum, inv. no. 1991,0717.2 though their example has been later adapted to include a mirror and satin lining. Originally designed for the use of a scholar or calligrapher, the surface served as a desk and the drawer for books and writing ephemera.){kind=link}