A 19TH CENTURY OTTOMAN SILVER THREAD AND SILK EMBROIDERED QURANIC CURTAIN

the black ground profusely embroidered in silver thread, with applied panels in pink and gold coloured silk, the upper section with a banner of Islamic text, over a shaped panel resting on a pair of columns, with an embroidered tassel design at the base, the texts would have continued on other curtains and contain passages from the Qur'an, the top panel Qur'an, chapter II (al-Baqarah), part of verse 125 and part of verse 260 and chapter III (Al 'Imran), part of verse 96 in the middle panel; and Qur'an, chapter XVII (al-'Isar'), verse 84 in the lower panel with 'God, exalted be His glory' and 'Muhammad, God bless him and grant him salvation' in its top corners, on later velvet backing,

263cm x 119cm

The text translates as follows:

and when we made the house [Mecca]

and when Abraham said "my lord, now show me how you give life to the dead"

the first house of worship established for mankind [Mecca]

say, each works according to his manner, but your lord is most knowing of who is best guided in way

Each of these sections starts with the blessing "bismillah al-rahman al-rahim" and the words "allah" and "muhammad" have sections on either side of the lowest panel.

Foonote:

The design of this curatin is typical of the embroideries produced in the period of Sultan Mahmud II, the pair of columns, architectural features and interwoven flowers are characteristic of the style of this era. Curtains of this type were used to cover the interior walls of the Shrine of the Prophet in the Mosque of the Prophet and other mosques. Those from the Mosque of the Prophers were replaced upon the ascension of a new Sultan to the throne, they were then used to cover the tombs of the Sultans or distributed amongst favoured dignitaries.

Auction Comparable:

See Sotheby's, 24 October 2007, lot 39 for similar curtain sold for £356,000, a Sotheby's, 9 April 2008, lot 40, £168,000.