Islamic Architectural Print, Sultan Selim II Mosque Minbar, Istanbul, 1924

Title: Original 1924 Islamic Architectural Print, Sultan Selim II Mosque Minbar, Istanbul

Date: 1924 (after 16th-century Ottoman sources, 1574)

Origin: Paris, France

Medium: Color lithograph on paper

Dimensions: Approximately 49 x 35.5 cm (19.3 x 14 in.)

Unframed. Framed images shown separately are for display inspiration only.

Description:

An exceptionally elegant original architectural plate depicting the minbar (pulpit) of the Sultan Selim II Mosque in Istanbul, together with a companion window design from the same monument. The composition forms Plate 58 from Alexandre Marcel Raymond’s celebrated publication L’Art Islamique en Orient, IIe Partie, one of the most important early twentieth-century surveys devoted to the decorative and architectural heritage of the Islamic world.

The print records the Mimber de la Mosquée du Sultan Selim II à Stamboul (1574), presenting the refined geometry, carved ornament, and restrained color palette characteristic of classical Ottoman design during the late sixteenth century. The minbar's elegant proportions, intricate geometric latticework, and subtle calligraphic detailing embody the sophisticated aesthetic developed under imperial patronage in Istanbul.

Executed as a finely printed color lithograph, the sheet combines archaeological precision with artistic sensitivity. Raymond and his collaborators documented architectural fragments directly from historic monuments, preserving decorative programs that remain among the finest achievements of Ottoman architecture.

The subdued greys, pale greens, and delicate gilded accents make this plate particularly suited to both traditional and contemporary interiors. It functions equally well as a work of architectural history, a decorative object, and a study in Islamic geometric design.

Today, original sheets from this monumental publication are increasingly sought after by collectors of Islamic art, architects, designers, and institutions focused on Middle Eastern and Ottoman visual culture.

Condition:

Good antique condition, with age-related toning, scattered foxing, minor edge wear, and light handling marks consistent with age and use. Colors remain soft and attractive. Please examine photographs carefully, as they form part of the condition description.

Framing Recommendations:

This original print is sold unframed. For presentation, we recommend a narrow ebonized or dark walnut frame with a warm ivory museum mat and UV-protective glazing. Such a treatment complements both the restrained palette and the refined geometry of the composition while preserving its scholarly character.

Keywords:

Alexandre M Raymond, L'Art Islamique en Orient, Ottoman Empire, Islamic architecture, Sultan Selim II Mosque, Stamboul, Istanbul, Constantinople, Ottoman minbar, mimber, mosque pulpit, Islamic ornament, geometric design, Islamic geometry, Ottoman decorative arts, architectural lithograph, antique print, original 1924 print, Islamic interior design, Middle Eastern art, Turkish heritage, Ottoman revival, Islamic archaeology, architectural study, mosque architecture, Selim II, Ottoman craftsmanship, Arabesque ornament, Islamic patterns, collector print, museum quality, unframed, framed images for inspiration only.