Kerchief
1750-1795 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
A kerchief is a square cloth with a narrow decorative border along two or more sides. It could be used on the head or shoulders or tied around the hips. From about the 1720s onwards Ottoman embroidery stopped copying woven designs and became a truly creative art form: new, naturalistic floral motifs were introduced and many of them were depicted in great detail. Some were allowed to sway and sweep across the fabric, some were stylised and many were enriched with metal thread. The colours were originally very bright but have often faded to pleasing pastel shades. Although the technique of this piece is Ottoman, the drawing is more reminiscent of European botanical drawings of the mid-18th century. This kerchief may have been embroidered in Istanbul, or in one of the former European provinces of the Otoman empire in which Ottoman embroidery and needlewomen were highly prized.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Silk, embroidered with silk in double darning, double running in a line and French knots, and with metal thread in musabak and satin stitch |
| Brief description | Middle East, Textile; Silk embroidery on gauze; Turkish; early 19th century. |
| Physical description | Kerchief, transparent silk embroidered along two adjoining sides with silk in double darning, double running in a line and French knots, and with metal thread in musabak and satin stitch. The minor border is a fine meander along which leaves alternate with tiny flowers. In the corner is a blue and white vase from which sprays of flowers and leaves scroll along two sides of the kerchief. this is an exquisite piece and the detail of the embroidery is remarkable. The flowers naturalistically depicted include auricula in the corner, roses and peaches/apricots. The sides have been rolled and stitched in place. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Style | |
| Object history | Registered File number 1929/7806. |
| Production | Although the technique is Ottoman, the drawing is more reminiscent of European botanical drawings of the mid-18th century. This kerchief may have been embroidered in Istanbul, or in one of the former European provinces of the Otoman empire in which Ottoman embroidery and needlewomen were still highly prized. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | A kerchief is a square cloth with a narrow decorative border along two or more sides. It could be used on the head or shoulders or tied around the hips. From about the 1720s onwards Ottoman embroidery stopped copying woven designs and became a truly creative art form: new, naturalistic floral motifs were introduced and many of them were depicted in great detail. Some were allowed to sway and sweep across the fabric, some were stylised and many were enriched with metal thread. The colours were originally very bright but have often faded to pleasing pastel shades. Although the technique of this piece is Ottoman, the drawing is more reminiscent of European botanical drawings of the mid-18th century. This kerchief may have been embroidered in Istanbul, or in one of the former European provinces of the Otoman empire in which Ottoman embroidery and needlewomen were highly prized. |
| Bibliographic reference | Illustrated in 'Ottoman Embroidery' by Marianne Ellis and Jennifer Wearden (V&A Publication, 2001); plates 85 - 88 |
| Other numbers |
|
| Collection | |
| Accession number | T.122-1929 |
About this object record
Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
| Record created | February 1, 2001 |
| Record URL |
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest
