Door of pine and planewood, decorated with carving and metal inlay, Ottoman Empire, possibly Turkey, 1800-1900

Door of pine and planewood, decorated with carving and metal inlay. It has brass and iron mounts. The decorated side consists of a lunette laid in brass, with inscriptions in Arabic alongside scrollwork within an oblong compartment and lunette; and an upright oblong filled with rows of lozenges, each with an iron disc surrounded by 'chip'-carved rays. The plain pine back is strengthened by three large battens and the door has a curved drop-handle, with a repoussé brass plate in the form of a building with three domes. The central dome is surmounted by a crescent. There are three staple hinges and portions of a lock-plate of iron.

V&A Record [1915/1416M] Description: “Door. Turkish (probably from Turkey in Europe). Pine and planewood, decorated with carving and metal inlay. It has iron and brass mounts. Said to have been formerly in a mosque. Purchased [along with 584 and 585-1908] in Budapest, Hungary for £31, 6 shillings, 10 pence.”

General Remarks: “The first two lines of the inscription are in Turkish. It is probably worth while to have these translated, as the end of the first line has a date; viz.72 and most likely they contain information about the object on which they are carved, whatever it is. The last two lines are in Arabic and run: “Oh, thou that lookest at it (i.e. the inscription) ask God for his Mercy on the writer, the sinful, contemplative one, who abases himself towards Him and believes in HIM [and I think] and pray for the writer, God, pardon his sins”. The Arabic is a little corrupt – probably written by someone who knew a few phrases. The two words over the inscription are also Arabic: they mean: Oh Helper! God is our Help. (signed) R. Guest. April 30 1915 – 1915/1416M

583:1-1908