A Collection of Sixteen Ottoman Turkish Sherbet Spoons (1800 to 1900 Turkish)

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ivory, coral, tortoiseshell, horn, brass, mop and whalebone

See: Finch and Co catalogue no. 7, item no. 11, cat no. 9, item no. 92, cat no. 10, item no. 23, cat no. 11, item no. 36, for other examples

Used by the ladies of the Palace harem for their favourite compotes of dried fruit known as 'hosaf', large sets of these beautiful spoons were produced for the use of the Grand Viziers at their meetings in the Divan (the Kubbe Alti) in the Topkapi Palace in Istanbul.

SPOONS B, C, G, I and J NOW SOLD

A Collection of Sixteen Ottoman Turkish Sherbet Spoons
Early 19th Century

a: A fine sherbet spoon with a facetted carved whalebone stem, a red coral finial and leaf shaped tortoiseshell bowl

b: A fine walrus ivory, coral and black lacquered brass sherbet spoon with a shaped tortoiseshell bowl (old collectors label) - SOLD

c: An unusual sherbet spoon with twisted carved red coral, walrus ivory and brass inlaid stem fashioned to resemble a narwhal tusk. A shaped tortoiseshell bowl - SOLD

d: A sherbet spoon with a facetted whalebone stem with a red coral twig and silver finial. A shaped tortoiseshell bowl

e: An unusual sherbet spoon with a mother of pearl, brass, coral and ebony stem with a carved coconut bowl

f: An early sherbet spoon finely carved completely from black ebony with red coral inlay

g: A fine walrus ivory sherbet spoon with a red coral twig and silver finial

h: A red coral and black lacquered brass stemmed sherbet spoon with a carved black ebony bowl

i: A fine pair of carved and polished whalebone sherbet spoons with silver and red coral finials and shaped tortoiseshell bowls - SOLD

j: An unusual pair of sherbet spoons, the walrus ivory stems inlaid with bands of dark horn and brass with carved pineapple finials and shaped tortoiseshell bowls - SOLD

k: A pair of facetted walrus ivory stemmed sherbet spoons with leaf shaped finials and carved coconut bowls

l: An unusual pair of facet cut horn sherbet spoons profusely inlaid with red coral, blue turquoise and brass studs