AN INSCRIBED OTTOMAN MARBLE STELE, DATED 1758 AD Ottoman Empire, Egypt, dated 1172 AH (1758 AD). The funerary stele finely carved with a finial in the form of a turban on top and neatly incised with Arabic inscriptions, including the name Mustafa, a prayer for his soul, and the date he died. Provenance: Mrs. Mairis Wittkowsky, Germany. A London private collector, acquired from the above. A letter by Rachel Ward of the British Museum, London, Department of Oriental Antiquities, dated 31 October 1990, confirms the description and dating for the present lot. Condition: Good condition commensurate with age, extensive weathering, wear and losses. Weight: 19.7 kg (excl. base) Dimensions: Height 54.5 cm (excl. base) Mounted on a modern base. (2) Literature comparison: Compare with a later and larger Ottoman tombstone from Turkey in the collection of the British Museum, museum number OA+.7403.