Antique 16th century Turkish Ottoman Military Leather Water Flask Matara

Antique 16th century Turkish Ottoman leather water flask (Matara) period time of the Sultan Suleiman Magnificent. The bladder-shaped flask with two protuberances, one for carrying, one with narrow spout for drinking, the third with a cylindrical neck for filling, made of thick leather, stitched together with a central seam with three lines of stitching. The Matara leather water flasks were very popular in Turkish Ottoman Army during the 16th century.

MEASUREMENTS: Height at highest point: 35 cm (13.78 inches). Across max. 18 cm (7.9 inches).

CONDITION: This Matara is in good condition considering its age to be over 500 years old, showing its age and usage, minor splits to the leather on the stiches at the base. In its original condition, no repairs, or restorations.

REFERENCES: Related Matara flask is published in the Bonhams catalogue: Islamic & Indian Art London 19 April 2007 lot 181. Title: An Ottoman leather Water Flask (Matara)
Turkey, 16th Century, at an Estimate Price: £2,000 - 3,000 US$ 3,200 - 4,700 €2,300 - 3,500. Please see the link below:

https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/15257/lot/181/

This water flask is the prototype for a shape which was copied in far more lavish and durable materials from the sixteenth century. A famous example in gemset rock crystal is in the Topkapi Palace Collection (Atil, E.: The Age of Sultan Süleyman the Magnificent, exhibition catalogue, Washington D.C., 1987, no.60, p.129. Two copies were also made in pottery at Iznik. One is published by Atasoy and Raby (Atasoy, N and Raby, J.: Iznik -- the Pottery of Ottoman Turkey, London, 1989, no.634, while the other, painted in the 'Damascus' palette, is in a private collection. For a metal prototype in the Sadberk Hanim Museum, see, Bodur, Fulya, The Art of Turkish Metalworking, Istanbul, 1987, p.112, pl.A.55.

We will also provide the buyer with photocopies of the pages from the mentioned references together with a certificate of authenticity.