Ottoman or Early Turkish Republic Era Silver Plate or Shallow Bowl
Hollowware (Plate/Shallow Bowl/Tray) · Unknown Ottoman or Turkish Silversmith; the mark 'İntaç' suggests a workshop name or lineage associated with production or distribution in the early 20th century.
Pattern: Traditional Tughra-era stylistic influence, likely undecorated or featuring simple repeating Islamic geometric/floral borders not fully visible in the macro shot.
Type
Hollowware (Plate/Shallow Bowl/Tray)
Maker
Unknown Ottoman or Turkish Silversmith; the mark 'İntaç' suggests a workshop name or lineage associated with production or distribution in the early 20th century.
Material
Likely 800 or 900 Silver (standard for Turkish and Ottoman silver); coin silver purity is common for the region. No hallmarks for sterling (.925) are visible.
Dimensions
Estimated diameter 20-30cm based on the scale of the strike; weight likely 300g to 600g depending on gauge thickness.
Description
A traditional Turkish silver plate featuring a hand-wrought surface. The central focus is the calligraphic workshop stamp, which provides a sense of provenance. The item displays the characteristic 'soft' luster of Middle Eastern silver alloys.
Key Features
Ottoman-style Arabic calligraphy stamp; hand-planished surface texture; utilitarian but high-purity silver composition characteristic of Balkan/Anatolian work.
Material & Composition
Likely 800 or 900 Silver (standard for Turkish and Ottoman silver); coin silver purity is common for the region. No hallmarks for sterling (.925) are visible.
Finish & Decoration
Hand-hammered or planished finish with a matte, non-reflective surface likely due to heavy tarnish or age. Features a stamped or struck Arabic-script mark.
Hallmarks & Stamps
The stamp is in Ottoman Turkish/Arabic script (Thuluth or Naskh style), reading 'İntaç-ı [something]'. This is a maker's mark or workshop stamp rather than an official state 'Tughra' or purity hallmark.
Construction Details
Hand-raised and planished from a silver sheet. The irregular texture visible in the macro shot indicates manual hammering rather than industrial spinning.
Functional Features
Functional as a serving platter, bread plate, or base for a coffee service. Typically deep enough to hold dry goods but shallow enough for display.
Handle & Grip Details
None visible; likely a flat-rimmed or simple rolled-edge plate design.
Craftsmanship Details
Evident hand-craftsmanship; the 'orange peel' texture of the metal suggests a master smith laboriously raising the piece from a flat ingot.
Authentication Indicators
The style of the strike (punched into the metal) and the specific flow of the calligraphy are consistent with early 20th-century Turkish workshop practices.
Origin & Manufacturing
Turkey (possibly Istanbul or Southeastern workshops like Mardin/Urfa). Follows Middle Eastern silversmithing traditions of hand-beating and striking.
Era & Period
Late Ottoman Empire transition to Turkish Republic (c. 1900-1940); utilizes Arabic script which was officially replaced in Turkey in 1928, though used by silversmiths later.
Age Estimate
Circa 1910-1930. The use of the Arabic script for a maker's mark suggests the early 20th century before the full adoption of Latin-script stamps.
Cultural Significance
Represents the 'Sini' or tray culture of the Middle East, where communal dining and coffee ceremonies dictated the production of high-quality silver service items.
Condition Notes
Fair to Good. Significant surface oxidation (sulfide tarnish), micro-scratching from past abrasive cleaning, and various small pits or 'flea bites' consistent with utilitarian use.
Value Estimate
$150 - $450 USD depending on total silver weight and the clarity of the full workshop name if fully identified.
Care & Maintenance
Gently clean with a non-abrasive silver foam. Avoid machine polishing which would strip the historical patina and flatten the calligraphic mark.
Similar Pieces
Egyptian silver (marked with the Lotus/Cat), Persian silver (84 mark), or late Victorian silver plate (EPNS), which would lack the hand-hammered texture seen here.
Interesting Facts
Turkish silver often lacks a 925 mark because the region traditionally used the 'Sah' and 'Tughra' system to denote purity rather than numbers.