This is a ‘tepelik’, in silver and gilded silver filigree work, adorned with set turquoise and other semi-precious stones. Late Ottoman urban style, 19th or early 20th century.

A tepelik is a metal ornament that is fixed on the upper side of a traditional woman’s fez (a cylindric hat). It is generally round (sometimes square, e.g. in Bolu). It is a kind of jewelry; therefore often silver, gilded silver or even gold were used for making them. Less valuable specimen were made of ‘alpaka’ (nickel silver), a silvery-coloured alloy of 60% copper, 20% nickel and 20% zinc.

Correspondent: J.M.Criel, Antwerpen.