"An Ottoman niello silver-gilt vessel and cover , sugar pot. Turkey, period of Sultan Abdulhamid II (1876-1909) Of bulbous form with two 's' shaped foliate handles surmounted by thumb rests in the form of birds, the domed lid with finial in the form of a pomegranate, profusely decorated in niello with a large roundel containing the Ottoman coat of arms to one side, a smaller roundel containing a tughra to the other, panels and bands of floral sprays, gilding to lid, thumb rests and finial, maker's stamps to rim of lid 15.5 cm. high, 608 g. Inscriptions: padişahım çok yaşa, 'Long live my Emperor!'; stamp to lid, amel-i zühre, 'Work of Zühre."
Provenance: part of a private Belgian collection.