The Missing Culture

How about something more modern. Golden Horn as seen from Suleymaniye is an oil on canvas by Devrim Erbil, and dated 2006. What amazes me most is the accuracy of the buildings. The painter did take the time to reflect what was there at the time of the work. Patience? Dimensions: 110x80cm. Estimated value: $ 6,000

I liked the colors of this board by Raif Efendi (Enderunlu). True, it is not one of the finest examples of calligraphy nor the most expensive one. Yet, it has a subtle beauty that captures my attention. I do not know why. Dated: 1915 Dimensions: 28x34.5 cm Estimated value: $ 350

Bashibouzhuk is a vague term used for bandits, robbers and similar free spirits :-) during the Ottoman era. They usually raided villages, hotels (technically they are called hans) and caravansarays (caravan stop-overs). This unsigned orientalist pencil drawing is roughly 40 years old. Experts could not decide whether it is a copy or a reproduction. Estimated value: $ 175

Henri Guillaime Schlesinger's "Fox and Grapes" is a beautiful color lithograph. Dated 1850, it has the common characteristic of most lithographic pictures of the era: attention to detail. Considering access to Harem was actually not allowed, I can say these are truely the first scrapbooking examples. You draw the carpet from a friend's house, the curtain from somewhere else, ladies could be your relatives, and you end up with an imaginary harem. Dimensions: 43x55 cm. Estimated value: $ 300