5795
Enquiry about object: 5795
Ottoman Balkans Silver-Inlaid Iron Horseshoe
Ottoman Balkans 19th Century
length: 11.2cm, width: 9.8cm, weight: 268g
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Provenance
private collection, UK.
This Ottoman silver-inlaid iron horseshoe is from the Balkans and dates to the 19th century.
It is decorated with bands of fine floral, geometric and cursive Arabic inscriptions, all in silver inlay.
The horseshoe is decorated with two fields of Arabic script – ‘Saray’ on the right, and Bosna on the left (Saray Bosna or Saray-i Bosna is the old Turkish name of Sarajevo.)
It is of irregular oval shape. The lower third curves inwards. The shoe is of thick, heavy-gauge metal and has eight holes to allow it to be nailed to the hoof of a horse around a central larger hole.
Other known examples also are inscribed with the name of Sarajevo, which is now the capital and largest city of what is now Bosnia and Herzegovina. Others also seem to have been produced in Ilidza in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
A similar example was offered at Bonhams London as lot 101 in their ‘Islamic & Indian Art’ sale of April 2, 2009.
Such items were produced as 19th century souvenirs or keepsakes in Ottoman Sarajevo.
The example here is in excellent condition.
References
Claudia Römer, Emeritus Associate Professor of Turkish Studies, Institut für Orientalistik der Universität Wien, Austria, Pers, comm.
Rogers, J.M., The Arts of Islam: Treasures from the Nasser D. Khalili Collection, Art Gallery of New South Wales, 2007.
