Bidspirit auction | Large Collection of Ottoman Penez

Large Collection of Ottoman Penez Decorative Tokens for Fez Ornamentation and Jewelry – Gilt Brass, Late 19th / Early 20th Century - A unique offering of a vast hoard of traditional Ottoman brass tokens of the ”Penez” (Penez) type. The tokens are decorated with rich hammered/raised relief work in the Orientalist style, featuring at their center a five-pointed star (pentagram) surrounded by floral and rounded foliate ornaments, imitating the appearance of Imperial gold coins. These tokens were manufactured in Europe (principally in Germany and France) for the markets of the Middle East and the late Ottoman Empire. They were traditionally used as garment ornaments on bridal dress, woven onto fez caps, belly-dance belts, and folk jewelry. Ottoman decorative tokens / jetons (Imitation Ottoman Wedding Tokens / Penez) made of light, thin gilt brass; average weight per token: approx. 2.8 g. Total weight of the sack: 4.368 kg (approximately 1,560 tokens). The tokens are contained in an original rustic burlap sack bearing a black stamped mark. An exceptionally commercial quantity: historical hoards of this weight are rarely encountered. The tokens examined display a high level of detail, beautiful gilt brilliance, and a light patina characteristic of their age.