Bath wrap of embroidered linen with silk and metal threads, Turkey, 1700-1799

Bath wrap of embroidered linen with silk in double running in steps and double running variations (outlines and stems) and with metal thread in double darning on the diagonal. Made from three widths. Each width is decorated with four bands of embroidered motifs. There are two motifs which alternate within the bands horizontally and vertically: The first is a flower with a gold centre and eight pink petals which seem to rotate around the centre, and the second has seven light pink star-like flowers which surround a closed bud in pink and light blue. There are smaller floral motifs scattered on the ground. It seems that the motifs were individually block-printed onto the ground because the alignment varies.

Given by J. W. F. Morton, Esq.

A bath wrap was a large cloth made from three widths of fabric. People who visited the hamman (public baths) would wrap them round their bodies when they rested after bathing. From about the 1720s onwards Ottoman embroidery stopped copying woven designs and became a truly creative art form. Designers introduced new, lifelike floral decorations, many of which were very detailed. They allowed some floral decorations to sway and sweep across the fabric. Some were stylised. All decorations were worked in soft colours often enriched with metal thread. The colours of many 18th century embroideries were originally very bright but have faded to pleasing pastel shades.

T.311-1966