Niello snuff box Ottoman but where

[Hose_dk]

Niello snuffbox. Not a mark I know. Does anyone hav idea of country maker and age?


I will uplate later.

[dognose]

Hi Hose,

See Turkey at: http://www.925-1000.com/foreign_marks3.html

Trev.

[Hose_dk]

Hi Dognose
Thanks but I have been there. The Tungra say nothing of which Sultan. As I understand the Tungra in Niello is a generic symbol that cannot be attributed to a specific sultan. The hallmarks are not Turkish/ottoman - to me they look nore as one the states around Russian border - but that is a wild guess.
The decoration is the ottoman coat of arms. But ottoman empire covered from Egypt to Afghanistan.

[AG2012]

Hi,
Actually detailed tughra can help to identify the sultan,but not this one in niello.
I think the box commemorates a military campaign (flags, military orders and medals).
The solution is in the inscription. Arabs can read Ottoman Turkish but cannot understand it. On the other hand they might recognize a geographical name, if there is one in the text.
Regards

[Hose_dk]

Yes and I have seen a page with the different sultans. But I assume that mine is not a specific one.

[MG]

Hello
The top stamped mark consists of the arabic letters for VAN which is a city in the far east of Turkey and many nielloed items originated from there. Ottoman Turkey used the arabic Alphabet
I can't read the bottom mark.
Thank you

[AG2012]

Hi,
I am glad MG has solved the mystery. Niello master silversmiths in Van were Armenians.
Based on the postage stamp depicted here it was made in late 19th or early 20th century.
Regards

[Hose_dk]

Very interesting. I ought to have recognized as I do have another item with the Van castle as motive.
I have tried to capture the hallmark.


Its difficult, but thanks for the identification of location.