OTTOMAN TURKEY, SECOND HALF 17TH CENTURY

Domestic embroideries such as our example were inspired in design by the more luxurious woven silks popular at the Ottoman court. The embroideries have the same flowers, serrated leaves and other motifs as the woven silks, but their shapes are often less well-defined. The production of such panels were less costly due to their materials (mainly linen and silk thread) and women could make them in their own homes. Large panels served as quilt-covers and hangings. Smaller pieces were used as napkins, sashes and towels, and for wrapping one’s possessions on the way to the public bath. Most of the embroidery is done in simple stitches, such as darning, couching and running stitch. In its overall conceit with large palmettes, our cover resembles a fragment in the V&A museum (inv. no. CIRC.92-1953). A similar quilt cover was sold at Sotheby's, New York, 13 December 2007, lot 92.