Polish plate, made in Warsaw circa 1776 as a gift for the Ottoman Sultan.  

See the Arabic calligraphy around the center? That’s actually Turkish. (Although Turkish is written in Latin letters today, during Ottoman times it was written in Arabic script.) It says “These gifts are sent — to the Tsar of the race of Osman — by the king of the Lekhs in proof of his most complete affection — and utter devotion.”

Lechia is a historic name for Poland.

I’d love to know more about the history behind this plate. What prompted the gift? Who did the calligraphy, and where did they learn the Turkish? 

We’ll just have to wonder.

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