Glass - Beykoz - Late Ottoman period

Aguamanil (Ibrik) or Turkish ewer in Ottoman Beykoz-era white opaline glass from the 19th century

The main body, the enamel, and the gilding are in generally good condition. The tip of the long spout is fractured (the upper section of the spout is missing). The upper stopper shows light normal wear for its age. No cracks or hairs in the opaline body or in the handle.

Magnificent and rare traditional aguamanil or sprinkler (ibrik) made of opaline glass, produced in the famous Beykoz workshops (Istanbul) during the 19th century under the Ottoman Empire. The piece, 27 cm tall, is crafted in white opaline glass with a semi-opaque texture that imitates fine porcelain. It features exquisite hand-painted enameling with floral motifs of botanical inspiration and a central bird in a deep cobalt blue. The details of the leaves, the profiles of the flowers, and the lines of the structure are beautifully enhanced with gold leaf. The circular base shows a peripheral pattern of red/orange dots in contrast, characteristic of the Ottoman palette of the era.

Note on condition: As seen in the images, the upper end of the elongated spout is broken. Nevertheless, the piece retains the full beauty of its enamel and its great historical value, making it a highly sought-after collectible item.

The enamelled and gilded Ottoman crystal from the Beykoz factory is represented in several major museums around the world. Due to the extreme fragility of the white opaline (Laleli), identical pieces to your aguamanil (ibrik) or sprinkler are considered collectible jewels.

The main museums where you can find directly comparable examples for your cataloguing are:
1. Beykoz Glass and Crystal Museum (Istanbul)
Located in the very district where your piece was made, the Beykoz Glass and Crystal Museum (managed by the Directorate of National Palaces of Turkey) is the world’s top reference. Collection: It houses approximately 1,500 historical glass artifacts, devoting entire rooms to Beykoz production of the 19th century. Parallels: They display multiple ibriks and rosewater jars in white opaline decorated with the same cobalt blue botanical pattern and gold leaf as your piece.
2. Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum (Istanbul)
The Türk ve İslam Eserleri Müzesi preserves one of the best state collections of Ottoman court tableware. It has dedicated showcases for glass produced in the imperial İncirköy (Beykoz) factories. Its inventories show ceremonial jugs and aguamanil sets with an identical color palette, including the characteristic red/orange dots on the bases.
3. Victoria and Albert Museum (London)
The prestigious Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) in the United Kingdom has a rich Islamic art section where several Beykoz glass pieces (Beykoz işi) from the late 19th and early 20th centuries are kept. Their online records show opaline Turkish enamelled and gilded jars and decanters that serve as an excellent cataloging basis for verifying blowing techniques and the application of gold leaf.
4. Louvre Museum (Paris)
Within its Department of Islamic Art, the Louvre exhibits pieces of Ottoman blown glass. Like your piece, several Beykoz jars and bottles that have survived suffer historic accidents at their long spouts or handles due to original use in courts and the glass opaline’s thermal fragility, so some are shown with ancient metal or resin restorations.

Bibliography:
Küçükerman, Önder (1985). The Art of Glass and Traditional Turkish Glassware. Ankara: Sümerbank.
Reason for citation: Professor Küçükerman is the leading academic authority in the Turkish glass industry. This book documents the evolution of the imperial workshops founded in Beykoz and details the gilding on white opaline (Laleli).
Küçükerman, Önder (1998). Türk Cam Sanayii ve Şişecam (The Turkish Glass Industry and Şişecam). Istanbul: Türkiye Şişe ve Cam Fabrikaları A.Ş..
Reason for citation: Includes formal and catalog analyses comparing Beykoz glass with European influences (such as Murano or Bohemian glass) of the 19th century.
Museum Catalogs and Relevant Collections
Moraitou, Mina (ed.) (2013). Of Coloured Glass - The Mando & Londos Oeconomides Collection. Athens: Benaki Museum (8th Supplement).
Reason for citation: This Benaki Museum catalog focuses almost entirely on glass produced in the Istanbul and Beykoz workshops during the 19th century. It is one of the best international visual references for opaline pieces with gilding.
Bayramoğlu, Fuat (1974). Turkish Glass Art and Beykoz Glass / Türk Cam Sanatı ve Beykoz Camları. Istanbul: Yapı ve Kredi Bankası Yayınları.
Reason for citation: A classic out-of-print essential for identifying ceremonial sprinkler and aguamanil forms of the Ottoman court, explaining the cobalt blue glaze palette under the glaze.

From a private collection