Lot 209
Qawas – Staff of an Official Ottoman Guardian
Qawas, mace-like staff of the type used by official Ottoman guardians and gatekeepers. [Ottoman Empire / Palestine, early 20th century].
Silver, stamped and engraved; painted wood.
Long wooden mace-like staff, with upper part coated with silver – massive, conical, eight-sided head and narrow cylindrical band, all adorned with strips of leaves and flowers.
The term "qawas" is defined, in general, as the guardian or gatekeeper of a large, important institution, or the emissary of an embassy or consulate. Over time, the term began to be applied to the actual object – the mace – and not just the official holding it. The qawas was in use in the Ottoman Empire, and in some parts of Palestine, late as the early decades of the 20th century. They were also owned and used by Qawas officials who were in the service of Jewish persons, such as the chief rabbis.
Length: 120 cm. Maximum width: 6 cm. Warping and minor blemishes to silver.
