Turban Cover
1700-1827 (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 and metal thread in double running in steps, double running in a line and satin stitch, and with metal thread in double darning on the diagonal; made from three pieces joined before being embroidered |
| Brief description | A turban cover of linen embroidered with silk and metal thread, Turkey, 18th/early 19th century |
| Physical description | Turban Cover, linen embroidered with silk in double running in steps, double running in a line, and satin stitch, and with metal thread in double darning on the diagonal. In the centre is a gold star which forms the centre of a pink blossom with eight pointed leaves worked in outline with green silk, each leaf enclosing a pink cherry blossom. At the point of each leaf is a dark pink flower; between each pair of leaves iseither a round, predominantly blue flower or a leafly flower with green outlines. This entire arrangement is encircled by pink, green and white leaves. Made from three pieces before being embroidered. |
| Dimensions |
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| Style | |
| Credit line | Given by Mr Frank Brangwyn |
| 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 40
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | T.43-1940 |
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| Record created | February 7, 2001 |
| Record URL |
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