Antique Ottoman Wrought Iron Grille Designs, Istanbul & Bursa, Raymond 1924
€ 440
Original antique · The actual sheet photographed · Certificate of authenticity on request · Sold unframed · Worldwide shipping from € 15 (rates)
Date
1924
Mapmaker / artist
Alexandre M. Raymond (French architect and scholar of Islamic architecture)
Publisher
Paris, France
Technique
Original color lithograph
Sheet size
35.5 × 49 cm (14.0 × 19.3 in)
Condition
Good
Reference
BG-14306-47
What the condition grades mean
Excellent
Bright and clean, with no faults worth mentioning.
Very good
Only light signs of age, such as faint toning.
Good
Normal signs of age for a sheet of this period: toning, some foxing, small marks or neat old repairs.
Fair
Clear faults such as staining, tears or repairs, priced to match.
Every fault we see is written in the condition note, and the whole sheet is shown uncropped in the photos.
Condition
Good original condition with age-related toning, scattered foxing, light handling wear, and minor marginal imperfections consistent with age. Colors remain strong and well-preserved.
About this sheet
Antique Ottoman Wrought Iron Grille Designs, Istanbul & Bursa, Alexandre Raymond, 1924
Original architectural color 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 centers 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.
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.
Original antique print. Sold unframed. Any framed illustrations are for display inspiration only.
