Ceremonial head frontal for a sultan’s horse. Height: 57 cm; width 48 cm. Ottoman, 1550-1600.
Gilt copper (‘tombak’), adorned with engraved floral motifs (long branches bearing tulips and carnations).
The piece has two moveable cheek plaques at the sides and a socket for feathers on the forehead.
To the left of the central tulip design there is a stamp, showing the Y-shaped symbol of the Kayı Türkmen tribe, from which the sultans descended. This was the seal of the Imperial Armours used on court arms and armour.

Correspondent: J.M.Criel, Antwerpen.
Source: ‘Land of Civilizations, Turkey’ – Catalogue of the Fukuoka Exhibition (Japan), 1985.