Architecture & Design · 20th century
€ 440
One of a kind: this is the sheet in the photographs. Ships from Langweer, the Netherlands.
Good original condition with age-related toning, scattered foxing, light handling wear, and minor marginal imperfections consistent with age. Colours remain strong and well-preserved.
Antique Ottoman Wrought Iron Grille Designs, Istanbul & Bursa, Alexandre Raymond, 1924
Original architectural colour lithograph from Alexandre M. Raymond's monumental publication *L'Art Islamique en Orient – IIe Partie*, illustrating examples of Ottoman wrought-iron work and decorative metal grilles from different periods of the early Ottoman Empire.
Issued as Plate 47, the sheet presents a comparative study of forged iron screens and ornamental panels from two of the most significant artistic centres of Ottoman civilization. The principal composition depicts a wrought-iron grille from the Çinili Köşk (Tile Pavilion) in Istanbul, dated 1470, while the smaller panels reproduce ironwork from the celebrated Yeşil Türbe (Green Tomb) in Bursa, completed in 1421.
The designs demonstrate the remarkable sophistication of Ottoman metal craftsmanship. Interlocking stars, radiating rosettes, and geometric networks reveal a visual language inherited from Seljuk traditions and refined into the elegant aesthetic that would characterize classical Ottoman art. The balance between mathematical order and decorative richness reflects fundamental Islamic concepts of harmony, infinity, and divine proportion.
The Green Tomb of Sultan Mehmed I remains one of Bursa's greatest monuments, while the Çinili Köşk represents one of the earliest surviving examples of Ottoman palace architecture in Istanbul. The iron grilles documented by Raymond illustrate how architectural metalwork was elevated beyond utility into an important artistic discipline.
Executed in a restrained palette of deep green, black, and warm cream, the composition possesses a striking modern quality that complements both traditional and contemporary interiors. The geometric abstraction anticipates twentieth-century design movements while remaining firmly rooted in fifteenth-century Islamic craftsmanship.
Alexandre M. Raymond meticulously recorded these architectural details during his travels throughout Turkey and the Middle East. His publications continue to serve as essential references for historians, architects, designers, and collectors of Islamic art.
Condition: Good original condition with age-related toning, scattered foxing, light handling wear, and minor marginal imperfections consistent with age. Colours remain strong and well-preserved.
Framing recommendation: Sold unframed. The print is ideally suited to a dark walnut or ebonized frame with a subtle gilt inner slip and an ivory museum mat. Museum glass is recommended for long-term preservation. Framed images are shown for inspiration only.
Keywords: Ottoman ironwork, wrought iron grille, Çinili Köşk, Tchinili Kiosk, Tile Pavilion Istanbul, Yeşil Türbe, Green Tomb Bursa, Ottoman metalwork, Islamic geometry, Islamic ornament, Ottoman decorative arts, Bursa architecture, Istanbul architecture, Seljuk influence, geometric design, architectural fragments, Alexandre Raymond, L'Art Islamique en Orient, antique lithograph, Turkish heritage, Islamic craftsmanship, fifteenth century, Ottoman Empire, forged iron, Islamic architectural history.
Technique: Original colour lithograph.
Artist: Alexandre M. Raymond (French architect and scholar of Islamic architecture).
Date: 1924.
Origin: Paris, France.
Original antique print. Sold unframed. Any framed illustrations are for display inspiration only.
