AN IMPORTANT SILVER-GILT ENAMELLED PLATE BY REPUTE GIFTED FROM KAISER WILHELM II TO THE OTTOMAN COURT OF SULTAN ABDELHAMID II
Austria, late 19th century

Of shallow form, decorated with blue, white, green and red enamel and silver-gilt decoration, the border is decorated with silver inlay and enamelled rumi and double rumi decoration, with crescent moons conraining both Arabic inscriptions and floral motifs, the central medallion depicts the Sultanahmet Mosque (Blue Mosque) in Istanbul, the inscriptions read: مشاالله كان (what God wishes exists), المقدر كائن (what is pre-ordained exists) and النجاة في الصدق (salvation is in sincerity). The plate was believed to have been gifted by Kaiser Wilhelm II as a royal gift to the Ottoman court of Sultan Abdelhamid II during his visit to Constantinople. With an Austrian bust of Diana hallmark, a Vienna circular star mark and an indistinct hallmark, possibly an Ottoman export mark at the back.