Description:

 AN OTTOMAN GILT COPPER (TOMBAK) LAMP, 19TH CENTURY
Ottoman Empire, 19th century 

Description:
A tall and finely turned lamp stand originally used as a candlestick, now converted for electrical use. Made of gilt copper (tombak), the piece features an elegant, baluster-form shaft with intricate chased floral and foliate motifs, surmounting a broad, circular base decorated with engraved peonies and cloud scrolls. The warm reddish tones of exposed copper beneath the gilding are visible due to natural wear, contributing to its rich patina and authentic historic character. 

Height: 40 cm 

This example represents the continuation of tombak craftsmanship into the 19th century, maintaining the Ottoman court’s tradition of luxurious, decorative metalwork for both religious and domestic use.

Comparable examples:

  • A large Ottoman tombak candlestick, late 18th–early 19th century, sold at Sotheby’s, London, 25 October 2017, Lot 130, for £32,500

  • An Ottoman gilt-copper candlestick, Constantinople, circa 1800, sold at Christie’s, Art of the Islamic and Indian Worlds, 28 April 2022, Lot 89, for £30,240

  • An Ottoman tombak lamp stand, Turkey, 19th century, sold at Bonhams, Islamic and Indian Art, 11 June 2019, Lot 48, for £28,750.

Note:
Tombak, a gilt copper alloy, was favoured in the Ottoman Empire for its luxurious appearance and resistance to tarnishing. Often reserved for ceremonial, courtly, or religious settings, objects such as this lamp were typically crafted by imperial metalworkers under close patronage. Though now adapted for modern use, this example retains its original aesthetic integrity and exceptional craftsmanship.

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

PLAKAS

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Bid Increments
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£0 £99 £5
£100 £199 £10
£200 £499 £20
£500 £999 £50
£1,000 £1,999 £100
£2,000 £4,999 £200
£5,000 £9,999 £500
£10,000 £19,999 £1,000
£20,000 £49,999 £2,000
£50,000 £99,999 £5,000
£100,000 £199,999 £10,000
£200,000 £499,999 £20,000
£500,000 £999,999 £50,000
£1,000,000 + £100,000