Antique Rare Ottoman Turkish Bow for archery, Excellent preserved condition, Signed by maker and dated 1824

A very rare early 19th C. Ottoman bow from the one of the last periods of great Ottoman bow making. This example is made in the traditional Ottoman way, through the compound method made of wood and horn, as can be seen in the case of this bow which was left undecorated, with the natural cow horn forming the decorative component.

The Turkish bow is the shortest of all the Asian composite bows. Although the ears become shorter with time, the differentiating cross-section of the limbs along their length and the recurved tips give all the common mechanical advantages of Asian style bows. It is the strong reflex that sets apart the Turkish bow from its cousins. This is caused by shrinkage of the sinew on the back of the bow, together with the initial recurvature of the core and horn. It is intentionally increased by the bowyer by binding the tips to the grip. The reflexed limbs increased the early draw weight dramatically.

This bow is beautifully decorated, with almost none missing or damaged, in red and green lacquer, with gold highlights all along the bow. The bow is signed in gold in two places, with the name of the maker and that of the decorator.

Work of Mjtaba (?) Ghowsi 1240 (H)=1824 Decoration by Mojalad Towfiq

A very fine example of an early Ottoman era bow of superb quality and form. The bow measures 24between the two outward curves.