A cotton sash fragment embroidered with silk and metal thread, Turkey, 19th century

Sash Borders, cotton embroidered with silk in double darning, double running in a line and slanted satin stitch, and with plate in satin stitch and satin stitch filling in squares. Tthe narrow border consists of a fine light brown meandering stem which bears small pointed green leaves and blue and brown flowers. The main decoration is formed by two bands, each containing two floral motifs in which a downward-facing flower (in either brown or pink) has pointed petals which are divided into two groups. Above this flower is a curving stem of small blue or brown flowers, similar to those in the narrow border, ending with a yellow flower. The colours are reversed in the upper band.

Given by Prof. R. M. Dawkins

Turkish people wore sashes round their waists. They tied them so that the decorative ends hung below knee level. Women may have threaded narrow sashes such as this one through the waistband of their trousers to hold them in place.
At the end of the 18th century embroidery designs began to develop into rigid and heavily stylised borders for towels and napkins. The colours were strong and embroiderers used greater quantities of metal thread. The designs were always inventive. The colours in some 19th century embroideries were originally very bright but they have faded to pleasing pastel shades.

T.514&A-1950