36,800 HKD
Swiss, made for the Oriental Market, circa 1840. Fine, 18K gold and enamel, zarf (Turkish coffee cup holder).Fully decorated with trophies painted over a pink ground, outer azure flowers among filigree work and further champlevé enamelled decoration.Dim. 58 x 45 mm. Notes The ZarfsIn the form of small eggcups, the zarfs were very popular in the Ottoman Empire, where they were used as Turkish coffee cup holders, to prevent the drincker from burning his fingers.In the Orient, offering coffee is the best way of honouring a visitor and therefore the magnificence of the cup holder is of first importance. The best examples, made for the sultans, were in gold, richly decorated, enamelled, chased and often set with precious stones. By the quality of the workmanship, their decoration could be compared with that of the best watch cases produced in Geneva. In fact, together with the watches, the vinaigrettes, the scent bottles and the snuffboxes, the zarfs werein the Orient the best ambassadors of the skill of the crafstmen and enamellers of Geneva.
Auctioneer:
Antiquorum
Date:
2000-06-05
