A rare mid-19th century French 950 standard silver covered serving dish (sahan), Paris circa 1850 by Eugène Queillé (reg. 11 Feb 1847 to 1880) For the Ottoman Turkish or Egyptian market. The base of shaped circular form with a moulded rim, the domed pull-off lid of conforming lobed shape surmounted by a pomegranate finial. The exterior of the lid with a flat chased teardrop shape vignettes infilled with flowers, the interior of the base with a flat chased medallion with flower heads encircled in a band of lozenges, the six lobed sides with flat chased boteh shapes infilled with flowers. Makers mark to the base underside only, the base and lid marked with export mark (used 1839-79). Diameter – 21.5 cm / 8.45 inches Weight – 651 grams / 20.93 ozt Provenance: Latterly owned by Victor A. Adda (Alexandria 1885-Rome 1965) who took over the family cotton trading business and formed an important collection of coins and antiquities. Thence by descent. The Queillé firm was founded in 1808 by Pierre Queillé (1781-1846) with successive generations using the PQ with a paddle in between mark. At this time this mark is generally ascribed to the founder’s second son Eugène François Queillé (1804-1880) working from 1847 to 1880 or if later to his grandson Elvire Pierre François Queillé (1834-1896) working from 1874 to 1895. An ewer and basin for the Turkish or Egyptian market by this firm was offered Bonham’s Knightsbridge, 12 Oct 2004, lot 201. A pair of gilt sahlep cups for the Turkish or Egyptian market by this firm were sold Sotheby’s Paris, 25 Nov 2010, Lot 147. In addition to these items spoon warmers bearing this mark are also known, therefore is clear that the Queillé workshop had a viable enterprise producing silver for the Ottoman market. A sahlep cup and cover marked for Queillé (post-1838) with the Tughra of Mahmud II (1808-39) is illustrated in Kurkman, G. (1996), Ottoman Silver Marks, Istanbul: Mathusalem, p. 36.