A small cossack outfit with 12 bullet pockets has a dashing cut that evokes intrigue in the Caucasus. Its small size suggests it was made for a young boy but the beautiful construction of the wool coat, satin shirt and cotton trousers further suggest it had more importance than a mere costume. We purchased this outfit in the Republic of Georgia a few years after Georgia's independence in 1991 following 70 years as part of the USSR. The history of the uniform is lost but a guess is that it wa ...click for details
Fifteen Ottoman horsemen gallop across the 33-inch length of this hunt scene miniature. The unusual panoramic format of the painting, reminiscent of a hand scroll, was achieved by attaching three old manuscript pages together lengthwise. Done on a background of gold leaf, the scene is colorful and lively, with brightly attired horsemen and horses in a field of flowers and trees. A number of deer leap among them and appear to be outwitting the riders, all of whom carry bows but with no arrows in ...click for details
