A Rare Ottoman Yildiz Palace-ware mother-of-pearl inlaid wooden scribe's box, period of Abdulhamid II, circa 1900

of rectangular form with a sloping hinged lid, the top surface and sides decorated with fleshy mother-of-pearl inlaid interlacing vegetal motifs, comprising palmettes and split-palmettes, the borders with micro-mosaic stained-wood inlay in chevron and parquetry designs, the interior lined with purple velvet

In good overall condition, some losses to extremities, particularly at the joins of the wood panels and border edges, some small replacement parts, 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 stat.mes nt made by Replica Shoes '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."

The Yildiz Palace in Istanbul, the main residence of Sultan Abdülhamid II (1876-1909), housed some significant examples illustrating a variety of late nineteenth-century Ottoman artistic styles.  The Sultan, a celebrated carpenter, produced and commissioned many works of art which formed the so-called Yildiz Palace style.  Yildiz Palace-wares share a common decorative repertoire which refers back to key motifs of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries.  In this era, basic ideas of pre-Ottoman Islamic arts have also been used.  The non-Turkic elements of this style are related to the pan-Islamist policy of the Sultan.  Very similar pieces to the present one have been published in the Dolmabahçe Palace catalogue (see Cemal Oztas, ed., Dolmabahçe Sarayi, Istanbul, 2005, pp.114-115).