A Gilt-Copper (tombak) 'alem finial, Turkey, century

A LARGE OTTOMAN GILT-COPPER (TOMBAK) FINIAL OTTOMAN TURKEY OR PROVINCES, 17TH/18TH CENTURY Rising from the faceted conical foot through the rounded shaft to two large rounded fluted bosses tapering slightly at end with crescent-shaped faceted finial with pointed ends 31in. (78.8cm.) high

Terminal of a Standard Author: Country: Turkey Collection: Arms and Armour Date: Late - early century Technique: chased, chiselled out, rivetted and gilded

Ottoman Alem was placed on the top of the imperial tents or flags. They can easily be seen in miniatures depicting the Ottoman army on the march. They often had inscriptions on them from the Quran and sometimes there were floral motifs filling in any empty spaces. They could be made of copper, bronze, brass, iron and gold. Only in the 19th century did these standards started to incorporate a star and crescent moon.