Not currently on display at the V&A

Bath Towel

1830-1870 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

At the end of the 18th century embroidery designs began to develop into rigid and heavily stylised borders for towels and napkins. The colours are strong and greater quantities of metal thread were used. The designs were consistently inventive. The colours in some 19th century embroideries were originally very bright but have faded to pleasing pastel shades. There is an embroidered inscription in arabic script on this towel which reads Ma sha' Allah [whatever Gods wills].
Bath towels were woven with a looped pile. The idea was introduced into western Europe when it was copied by the Manchester firm of Christy and Sons about 1840.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Linen, embroidered with silk and metal thread
Brief description
Linen towel embroidered with silk and metal thread, Ottoman territories, 19th century
Physical description
Bath towel, linen embroidered with silk in double darning and double running in a line and with metal thread in double darning on the diagonal and slanted satin stitch.
There is a narrow band worked with metal thread and above that is a line of identical motifs: three rose stems rising from a crescent shaped bowl. The stems have green leaves and three round roses in blue, light and dark pink; there are two small carnations at the base of thestems.
Dimensions
  • Length: 185cm
  • Width: 84cm
Style
Marks and inscriptions
Ma sha' Allah (Inscription; decoration; Arabic; Arabic; end of the embroidered border; embroidering)
Translation
Whatever God Wills
Subjects depicted
Summary
At the end of the 18th century embroidery designs began to develop into rigid and heavily stylised borders for towels and napkins. The colours are strong and greater quantities of metal thread were used. The designs were consistently inventive. The colours in some 19th century embroideries were originally very bright but have faded to pleasing pastel shades. There is an embroidered inscription in arabic script on this towel which reads Ma sha' Allah [whatever Gods wills].
Bath towels were woven with a looped pile. The idea was introduced into western Europe when it was copied by the Manchester firm of Christy and Sons about 1840.
Bibliographic reference
Illustrated in 'Ottoman Embroidery' by Marianne Ellis and Jennifer Wearden (V&A Publications, 2001); plate 105
Collection
Accession number
CIRC.452-1910

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Record createdJanuary 17, 2001
Record URL
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