Ottoman Military & Ceremonial Standards – Engraving of Cavalry & Janissary Flags
€ 170
One of a kind: this is the sheet in the photographs. Ships from Langweer, the Netherlands.
Sheet size
42 × 26 cm (16.5 × 10.2 in)
Condition
Good
Reference
BG-13806-58
Condition
The condition of the engraving is very good. The plate impression is sharp and clean, and the paper retains its full margins. There is some gentle toning along the right edge and a few spots typical of age, but the sheet remains strong.
About this sheet
This detailed copperplate engraving from 1734 illustrates six Ottoman military and ceremonial standards, each labeled with a letter corresponding to its function or bearer. Taken from the monumental work *Cérémonies et Coutumes Religieuses de tous les Peuples du Monde*, the image offers a precise visual reference for understanding the flags and emblems of the Ottoman Empire in the 18th century. The plate is numbered 138 and engraved with remarkable clarity.
At left, marked A, is a small cavalry guidon, minimal in form with a forked pennant. Below it, B shows the flag of the Janissaries, the elite infantry corps of the Ottoman Sultan. Flag C, noted as the cavalry standard (*étendart de cavalerie*), displays crossed weapon motifs with a crescent moon, emphasizing martial identity and Islamic symbolism. Flag D, belonging to the canoniers (artillery troops), includes powder horns and cannon elements, arranged over a dark triangular field.
Most visually arresting is Flag E—described as *l'étendart du Grand Vizir*—which bears an ornate design with inner concentric circles and a stepped geometric border, suggesting a high-ranking authority within the imperial military hierarchy. Completing the composition is item F, *la queue de cheval* or horse’s tail standard, a symbol of military command in Turkish tradition dating to the Seljuk and Mongol periods. This tail standard, placed highest and at the far left, would be carried by Pashas and signified rank and jurisdiction.
The image not only documents these ceremonial and battlefield emblems with technical clarity, but it also conveys the symbolic richness of Ottoman visual culture. The use of crescents, swords, cannonry, and decorative tassels are all indicative of military hierarchy and Islamic heritage.
The condition of the engraving is very good. The plate impression is sharp and clean, and the paper retains its full margins. There is some gentle toning along the right edge and a few spots typical of age, but the sheet remains strong and well-preserved.
This piece makes an excellent addition to any collection focused on Islamic history, military iconography, or the visual culture of empires. For framing, a simple black frame with a linen mat in soft cream or taupe would elevate its clarity and provide elegant contrast to the fine engraving lines.
