embroidered, 1550-99, Turkish

Cover of linen embroidered with silk in regular surface darning over 5 threads, double running and chain stitch (border).
Made from two widths joined after being embroidered.
The border is a three-leafed motif in blue, yellow, white, red or green. The field is divided into pointed compartments by a lattice of red stems edged with tiny green leaves and decorated at intervals with a yellow circular motif. The stems contains a line of small flowerheads from which dark thread has corroded. The compartments contain an ogival medallion with a spiky blue edging and a red cloud band at its lowest point. The ogee is red with a central white tree motif, two curving stems and four greenand four white medallions.

The oldest Ottoman embroideries in the V&A date from the 16th and 17th centuries. They are either whole covers and wall hangings or fragments of them. They are decorated with large-scale, bold designs in red, blue, green and yellow, with some white and black. The oldest patterns, such as this one, are made from intersecting lines which enclose spaces filled with flowers.

888-1900