AN OTTOMAN SILVER SCRIBE PEN BOX (DIVIT) WITH THE TUGHRA OF MAHMUD II (R. 1808 - 1839)
Ottoman Turkey, early 19th century

The pencase of rectangular form with rounded terminals and chased foliate decoration, the upper section with a hinged lid, chased loop attachment and an ornate hinge with engraved cross hatching to the knuckles, the inkwell of panelled barrel like form with shaped serrated borders, the top with a hinged lid with linear sections released by a turning latch, the underside of inkwell with engraved trailing foliage, marked to the pencase and underside of inkwell with the Tughra of Mahmoud II (lacking 90), the side of case and inkwell with an assay scrape, the area of pencase near inkwell marked with makers mark Mustafa Sehri 22.7cm long and weighing 212 grams.

The figure of 90 was added to the Tughra mark later in the reign of Mahmud II from 1834, for further information please see Kurkman, G. (1996), Ottoman Silver Marks, Istanbul: Mathusalem, p.58.

Mustafa Sehri is recorded as a silversmith whose mark appears along with the tughra of Mahmud II in Garo Kurkman, Ottoman Silver Marks, Istanbul, 1996, p. 108.