Turkish Humidor

In a celebration of the opulent architecture of the palaces of the Bosphorus, LINLEY created an exquisite, multi-faceted humidor paying homage to four imperial palaces in Istanbul.

The principal south west gateway to the Dolmabahce Palace has been given pride of place as the front façade of the LINLEY humidor. Constructed in one of the palest woods, sycamore, this approach displays delicate hand carved urns atop hand turned, fluted Corinthian columns with silver capitals.  The ornate carvings and mouldings on the actual gate are interpreted here in the finest detail with marquetry - sycamore, walnut, boxwood, padouk, Bombay rosewood, maple burr and satinwood intricately inlaid onto the façade, with a Turkish skyline visible through the gates.

The Kucuksu Palace was built on the site of a beautiful meadow between two streams known as ‘Sweet Waters of Asia’ and the gate displayed on the LINLEY humidor is the entrance porch of the waterside approach. Again the lavish sculpting and moulding of the actual entranceway is intricately recreated in marquetry using deep rich woods such as walnut, Bombay rosewood, and burr ash.  The hand turned and carved capitals sit on substantial square columns on either side.

One of the seaward entrances of the Ciragen Palace is represented with an arched gateway and marquetry detailing in walnut, burr ash and Bombay rosewood.. The hand turned and fluted columns flank a Turkish landscape in marquetry that conceals a secret drawer.  This concealed storage compartment works on a push catch and can be released by gently applying pressure to the correct spot on the marquetry panel. The drawer is lined in sand faux suede and houses a sleek stainless steel S. T. Dupont cigar lighter.

The Beylerbey Palace was situated on the Anatolian shoreline and used mainly as a summer retreat by Abdul Aziz whose heraldic emblem it displays – recreated in delicately hand carved sycamore on the humidor. Once again carved silver Corinthian capitals top hand turned columns which in turn flank a marquetry depiction of the actual view, seaward, through the gates. Visible is the instantly recognizable first Bosphorus bridge depicted in padouk against a skyline of burr ash.  This panel too conceals a secret drawer on a push catch, which reveals a stainless steel Zeto cigar cutter cushioned in lining of sand faux suede.

The top of the humidor is hinged and opens to show a cigar ashtray in silver spun nickel set into sycamore, that can be removed and function independently.  Beneath the ashtray are two vented cedarwood storage trays and a removable hygrometer panel.  The truly innovative craftsmanship apparent throughout this piece is further revealed when the humidor lid is opened against the light – the translucent, alabaster and glass resin panel inset into the lid shows off a Turkish influenced pattern effect as a culmination of this fascinating work of art.