Kaftan
16th century (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Kaftans like this one were worn by Ottoman princes who died when they were children. Woven of silk and metal-wrapped thread, it shows that even in childhood Ottoman princes were dressed in the same lavish style as the sultan and his courtiers. The design of a meandering vine set with tulips was also found in contemporary embroidery.
These luxurious kaftans were preserved in imperial tombs where, in accordance with Ottoman custom, they were placed over the graves of the deceased. This one may have come from one of the graves of the 19 younger sons of Sultan Murat III. They were executed at the succession of their half-brother, Mehmet III, in 1595. This gory practice, designed to avoid a struggle for the succession, was never repeated.
These luxurious kaftans were preserved in imperial tombs where, in accordance with Ottoman custom, they were placed over the graves of the deceased. This one may have come from one of the graves of the 19 younger sons of Sultan Murat III. They were executed at the succession of their half-brother, Mehmet III, in 1595. This gory practice, designed to avoid a struggle for the succession, was never repeated.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 2 parts.
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| Materials and techniques | Silk, cotton and silver thread, woven |
| Brief description | Child's kaftan of silk brocade, Turkey (Bursa or Istanbul), 16th century |
| Physical description | Brocade kaftan with floral designs in crimson and blue on yellow ground. |
| Dimensions |
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| Style | |
| Gallery label | Jameel Gallery
Princes' Kaftans from Ottoman Turkey
These three kaftans (and another in a nearby case) were worn by Ottoman princes who died when they were children. They were preserved in imperial tombs where, in accordance with Ottoman custom, they were placed over the graves of the deceased.
The kaftans may have come from the graves of the 19 younger sons of Sultan Murat III, who were executed at the succession of their half-brother, Mehmet III, in 1595. This gory practice, designed to avoid a struggle for the succession, was never repeated.
The kaftans, woven of silk and metal-wrapped thread, show that even in childhood, Ottoman princes were dressed in the same lavish style as the sultan and his courtiers. The wide range of designs of the time include a meandering vine set with tulips, which clearly influenced contemporary embroidery (see case opposite).
Museum nos 768, 763, 754-1884(2006-2012) |
| Production | Possibly made in Bursa or Istanbul. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | Kaftans like this one were worn by Ottoman princes who died when they were children. Woven of silk and metal-wrapped thread, it shows that even in childhood Ottoman princes were dressed in the same lavish style as the sultan and his courtiers. The design of a meandering vine set with tulips was also found in contemporary embroidery. These luxurious kaftans were preserved in imperial tombs where, in accordance with Ottoman custom, they were placed over the graves of the deceased. This one may have come from one of the graves of the 19 younger sons of Sultan Murat III. They were executed at the succession of their half-brother, Mehmet III, in 1595. This gory practice, designed to avoid a struggle for the succession, was never repeated. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | 763-1884 |
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| Record created | November 24, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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