Description:

A HIGHLY ORNAMENTED GILT-SILVER BELT WITH TURQUOISE AND CARNELIAN INSETS, OTTOMAN BALKANS, 19TH CENTURY
Ottoman Balkans, 19th century

Description:
A richly adorned ceremonial belt crafted from heavy silver, fire-gilt and embellished with delicate filigree work and applied floral scrolls. The central and side plaques are elaborately chased and decorated with rosette motifs and spiralling tendrils, each accented with inset turquoise and carnelian cabochons. The structure comprises five hinged sections, the three central lobed panels flanked by angular end-pieces with matching foliate decoration and projecting finials.

The intricate gold filigree work is exemplary of Balkan Ottoman craftsmanship, particularly from regions such as Albania, Kosovo, or Bosnia, where silversmithing flourished under imperial patronage. The ornate central motif, with its radiating petals and surrounding jewels, echoes both Islamic and local Christian aesthetics, making such belts popular among aristocratic and bridal dress across religious communities.

Dimensions: Total  Length: 80cm; weight 1134g

Comparable examples:

  • A similar Ottoman gilt-silver belt with turquoise and garnet inlay sold at Sotheby’s, Arts of the Islamic World, 1 May 2019, Lot 159, for £9,375.

  • A 19th-century Balkan Ottoman belt with rosette bosses and filigree decoration fetched £8,750 at Bonhams, Islamic and Indian Art, 11 June 2018, Lot 72.

  • A related silver-gilt belt with cabochon stones and pierced motifs sold at Christie’s, Art of the Islamic and Indian Worlds, 26 April 2012, Lot 120, for £10,000.

Note:
Elaborately worked belts such as this served as both protective amulets and visible markers of wealth, status, and ethnic identity. Often gifted during weddings or major life events, they were among the most valued items in women’s dowries across the Ottoman Balkans. The technical virtuosity and luminous materials of this example affirm its ceremonial importance and cross-cultural appeal.

 

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May 6, 2025 1:00 PM BST
London, United Kingdom

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£2,000 £4,999 £200
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£10,000 £19,999 £1,000
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£500,000 £999,999 £50,000
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