Turban Cover
1600-1699 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
A turban cover is a lightweight square cloth. It was placed over the turban when it was not in use to protect it from dust and disrespectful treatment. Turbans indicated the rank of the wearer. They were removed like hats and not unwound. The red woollen fez replaced turbans for all except the ulema (clergy) about 1827. 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 they have faded to pleasing pastel shades.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Linen, embroidered with silk in double running in steps and in diagonal lines, double running in a line and counted satin stitch; made from two widths joined before being embroidered |
| Brief description | A turban cover of linen embroidered with silk, Turkey, 17th century |
| Physical description | Turban Cover, linen embroidered with silk in double running in steps and in diagonal lines, double running in a line and counted satin stitch. In the centre is a flower with six blue petals from which radiate four brown stems bearing a white leaf, a red flower and a rosebud with leaves. around these is a circle formed by white and red leaves. The rest of the ground is covered with diagonal brown stems bearing three red blossoms and two rosebud sprays; there is one in each corner and one in the middle of each side. The border contains isolated curved sprigs, each with a red blossom and a rosebud. Made from two widths joined before being embroidered. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Style | |
| Credit line | Given by Mr Frank W. Taylor |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | A turban cover is a lightweight square cloth. It was placed over the turban when it was not in use to protect it from dust and disrespectful treatment. Turbans indicated the rank of the wearer. They were removed like hats and not unwound. The red woollen fez replaced turbans for all except the ulema (clergy) about 1827. 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 they have faded to pleasing pastel shades. |
| Bibliographic reference | Illustrated in 'Ottoman Embroidery' by Marianne Ellis and Jennifer Wearden (V&A Publication, 2001), plate 39
|
| Collection | |
| Accession number | CIRC.145-1929 |
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 2, 2001 |
| Record URL |
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest
