Ottoman Rahle (“Quran Table”)
Turkey, 18th / 19th century
Wood, bone, mother-of-pearl and tortoiseshell
75.7cm high, 41.1cm wide, 110.5cm long
Provenance: UK Private Collection
Stock no.: A4114
This item contains less than 10% ivory and has been registered with Defra.
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Full Description
Ottoman Rahle (“Quran Table”)
The rahle is elaborately decorated in the imperial Istanbul style. It has a stylized central floral (tulip) motif, enclosed within a roundel of triangles inlaid with mother-of-pearl. This motif is repeated as half medallions on either side of the surface and separated by stylized tulips and intertwined with rosettes, scrolls and flower heads in mother-of-pearl. There is also a border of rosettes followed by an outer double border of downward facing triangles in mother-of-pearl and upward facing tortoiseshell triangles.
On either side of the table, there is a motif of a flower spray in a roundel against a background of scrolling flowerheads in mother-of-pearl; below this, the table legs are in the mihraplı (“mihrab”) style with a protruding medallion with floral motifs. The four legs are also decorated with floral motifs adjoined by scrolling vines in mother-of-pearl followed by a border of triangles.
For similar examples of rahle, see Cevdet Çulpan, Rahleler, Istanbul, 1968, pp. 32-33; illustrations 29-30.