This 'tughra' (imperial emblem) features the name of Ottoman Sultan Abdulhamid II (reign 1876-1909). It reads ‘Abdulhamid Han bin Abdulmecid el-Muzaffer Daima’ which means Sultan Abdulhamid, son of Abdulmecid (the ever victorious). The tughra is made from a sheet of metal stuck onto a wooden panel. This tughra was composed by Abdulfettah (1815-1896) a well known 19th century calligrapher of Greek origin. He was enrolled in the services of an Ottoman commander in-chief, and received an Islamic education including calligraphy lessons. He was later known for his calligraphy as well as his work as a state official in the Ottoman administration.
