Not currently on display at the V&A

Cushion Cover

1700-1730 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

The V&A acquired its first velvet cushion cover, or 'yastik' as they are called in Turkish, in 1852 and by 1900 had built up a collection of sixty-two. A few more were added in the 20th century creating a representative collection in both date and quality.
In late 19th and early 20th century literature such covers were sometimes called 'Scutari velvets' which led many people to assume they were woven in Scutari, or modern-day Shkoder, in Albania whereas the reference was really to Scutari, or modern-day Uskudar, in Turkey.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Voided velvet; silk pile on a white ground enhanced with an additional weft of silver strip wound around a white silk core. Satin foundation structure 4/1 satin; silk: yellow. Weft: cotton, 1 ply ivory. Satin and velvet warp order 3-1-2. Velvet structure: silk.; red and green; S-twist. Pile counts, warps 10, along weft 9. Binding weft threads: silk, super-skinny white filament. Brocade structure: wholly brocaded? whole; 4/1 twill, count 16. Shots between pile 2; Metal and twist: gilt; gold. S Tightness of wrap. Tightly. Selvedges: dimensions 2 cm. Satin, as foundation.
Brief description
Velvet cushion cover, with a red floral pattern in silk pile on a gold ground, Turkey, 16th to 17th century.
Physical description
Voided velvet cushion cover, with a floral pattern in red and green silk pile on a white ground enhanced with an additional weft of silver strip wound around a white silk core.
There is a relatively small, central, multi-petalled rosette surrounded by eight large tulip heads and many small rose buds. At each corner there is a diagonal spray of small pomegranate fruit and a rose bud. At either end of the cover there is a six-lappet border, each containing a stylised rose bud.
Dimensions
  • Length: 159cm
  • Width: 66cm
  • Length: 60.5cm (of pattern repeat)
  • Width: 30.5cm (of pattern repeat)
Style
Gallery label
VELVET Turkish; 16th -17th century. Floral pattern in silk pile on a gold ground.(Used until 11/2003)
Subjects depicted
Summary
The V&A acquired its first velvet cushion cover, or 'yastik' as they are called in Turkish, in 1852 and by 1900 had built up a collection of sixty-two. A few more were added in the 20th century creating a representative collection in both date and quality.
In late 19th and early 20th century literature such covers were sometimes called 'Scutari velvets' which led many people to assume they were woven in Scutari, or modern-day Shkoder, in Albania whereas the reference was really to Scutari, or modern-day Uskudar, in Turkey.
Bibliographic reference
Turkish Velvet Cushion Covers by Jennifer Wearden, Victoria & Albert Museum [1986]
Collection
Accession number
101-1878

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Record createdDecember 2, 2003
Record URL
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