Algerian craftsmanship, late 19th century - Lot 159

Algerian craftsmanship, late 19th century Cylindrical engraved bamboo letter case with continuous panoramic decoration depicting a large oriental port, probably a stylized view of Constantinople. No inscription or date. Length: 26.7 cm. The surface of the bamboo is entirely decorated with fine incisions depicting a harbor city bustling with merchant ships and boats, in front of a dense architectural ensemble of mosques with domes topped with crescents, pavilions, terraces and fortified buildings arranged along the shore. The composition develops as a continuous frieze along the entire length of the object. The iconography remains deliberately stylized and synthetic, characteristic of Orientalist productions of the second half of the 19th century, in which the great cities of the Levant - notably Constantinople - are evoked by an accumulation of domes, minarets and monumental buildings rather than by a precise topographical representation. The decorative technique is based on direct incision engraving into the bamboo surface, with the lines then accentuated by darkening the grooves to reinforce the contrast with the light-colored material. Similar processes can be seen on some engraved bamboo objects produced in Algeria in the 19th century, notably on traditional nay-type musical instruments. These objects are part of a craft industry developed in Algeria during the colonial period, largely intended for travelers, foreign visitors and visiting soldiers. They were often produced as souvenir objects or decorative pieces featuring orientalist views that were highly appreciated in 19th-century Europe. Related works : - Nay-type end-mouth flute in engraved bamboo, Algerian work, Musée de la Philharmonie de Paris, inv. E.2002.8.3. - Engraved bamboo case depicting a view of the port of Algiers, inscribed "Hamourba Ben ElhaJ, Rue des Pyramides n°15, Alger, Médaille 1876 Exposition d'Agriculture", Archéologie, Arts d'Orient sale, Boisgirard - Antonini, Paris, November 28, 2013.