A late 19th century Egyptian silver bowl, Cairo circa 1890 by Madat Ghazarosyan

A late 19^th century Egyptian silver bowl, Cairo circa 1890 by Madat Ghazarosyan

Of scalloped circular form upon a spreading circular foot. Flat chased decoration of rosettes within lozenges. Marked to the centre with maker’s mark and ٩٠. Together with a small dish, shaped oval form with flat chased decoration of rosettes and buildings, maker’s mark Kusyan Ihvan and ٩٠. (2)

Diameter – 18.2 cm / 7.2 inches

Weight – 317 grams / 10.19 ozt

A twin handled tray by Madat Ghazarosyan was sold Christie’s London, 26 April 2013, lot 853 (£1625 incl. prem)

Kusyan Ihvan is show as “(Aleppo or Damascus ?)” in Kurkman, G. (1996), Ottoman Silver Marks, Istanbul: Mathusalem, p.91. Evidently this is a Egyptian maker.

These Egyptian marks are believe to have been in use by these Armenian silversmiths during the period of the ‘veiled protectorate’ of the British Empire against the Ottoman Empire over Egypt from 1882.

The scarcely seen lion passant mark has been discussed as being brought in during the reign of Khedive Abbas Helmy II (1892-1914) as a second precious metals law was passed in addition to the Gashanjy Law (1847) passed during the reign of Khedive Abbas I. This second law was to regulate the marking process, and stipulated standards in gold and silver, although marking was not compulsory. The silver standards were set out as minimum standards as follows; 900/800/600/450. It is not known the actual year in which the law was enacted and brought into force. However, it is discussed in Kurkman, G. (1996), Ottoman Silver Marks, Istanbul: Mathusalem, p.61 that these marks are seen during the reign of Sultan Abdulmejid I (1839-61) and Abdulaziz (1861-76) so it is more likely that the lion was mark in use from 1847.

They certainly pre-date 1916, when the marking system was altered once again to become compulsory, replacing the lion with the cat for silver and the standing ibis for gold, the standards remaining the same with the abolishment of 450 standard, and the introduction of a date letter.