A new post on Salt Blog
“In 1947, the Ottoman Bank decided to adopt a new institutional logo and began working with Orientalist banknote and stamp designer Edmund Dulac (1882-1953). Dulac’s emblem proposal was accepted after lengthy discussions. As noted in a memorandum dated 1958, the olive tree was chosen for several reasons: it symbolized productivity, peace, resilience, and adaptability; moreover, it was commonly found in all the countries where the bank operated. The three roots in the design referred to the bank’s corporate management centers in Istanbul, London, and Paris. The branches of the tree represented the bank’s expansion abroad, while the rhombus frame, which had countless variations in Islamic art through carpets, miniatures, screens, embroidery, and interior and exterior architectural details, pointed to the geography of the Middle East.”
Drawing on documents from the Ottoman Bank Archive, the full article by Lorans Tanatar Baruh, Associate Director of Salt Research and Programs, is available on Salt Blog.
Image: Ottoman Bank emblem, 1958
Salt Research, Ottoman Bank Archive