This item has been added to the Database within the Explore Islamic Art Collections project. Information is available in: English, Arabic.

Name of Object:

Inkstand (divit)

Location:

Bucharest, Romania

Holding Museum:

The National Museum of Art of Romania

About The National Museum of Art of Romania, Bucharest

Date of Object:

Hegira 1115 – 1143 / AD 1703 – 1730

Museum Inventory Number:

69253/ M 1827

Material(s) / Technique(s):

Cast silver, chiselled, engraved, gilded; amethyst

Dimensions:

Length: 34.5cm, Width: 7cm

Period / Dynasty:

Ottoman

Provenance:

Turkey

Description:

The edges of the inkwell, as well as the sides and terminals of the pen case are decorated with chiselled vegetal motifs. Engraved motifs cover the base of the inkwell and partially its back. The hinged cover of the inkwell is set with an amethyst. The base of the inkwell and the back of the pen case are both marked with the tughra of Sultan Ahmed III (1703 - 1730). Traces of textile (liqa) have been found inside the inkwell. On the upper side, the maker’s stamp: ‘amal Muhammad.

How date and origin were established:

Tughra of Sultan Ahmed III

How Object was obtained:

Partial return (1956) of the Romanian treasure sent to Russia for safekeeping during World War I.

How provenance was established:

Tughra

Selected bibliography:

Derman, U., Sabancı University, Sakıp Sabancı Museum, Selected Works from the Calligraphy Collection, Istanbul: Sabancı University, Sakıp Sabancı Museum, 2005.
Dunca, M., Scrierea în arta islamică, Bucharest: National Museum of Art of Romania, 2000: 77, cat. no. 51.

Citation of this web page:

Mircea Dunca "Inkstand (divit)" in Explore Islamic Art Collections. Museum With No Frontiers, 2026.
https://islamicart.museumwnf.org/database_item.php?id=object;EPM;rm;Mus21;17;en

Prepared by: Mircea Dunca

MWNF Working Number: RO1 17