or sash, embroidered, 1800s, Turkish

Towel or Sash, silk embroidered with silk in double darning, double running in a line, double running variations (border) and musabak, and with metal thread in fishbone and satin stitch.
There is a warp fringe along either end with pieces of red silk knotted at the end of the twisted threads.The narrow border has a fine meander with light green leaves and circular blossoms in blue and in pinks, alternating with spiky ones which are outlined in red.
There is a fine line separating the narrow border from the main border. The main border consists of a repeated S-motif formed by a curving spray of blue flowers, two pink flowers and a smaller clump of blue flowers. Between these motifs is a small floral sprig.

Given by Mrs E. M. Hughes

Said to be from the Turkish Archipelago, islands in the Aegean which later reverted to Greece.

At the end of the 18th century embroidery designs began to develop into rigid and heavily stylised borders for towels and napkins. The colours of 18th and 19th century embroideries were originally very bright but many have faded to pleasing pastel shades; often great quantities of metal thread were used. Napkins were mainly used to clean fingers during meals, but were also used as decoration and as covers and their designs were consistently inventive. Sashes were worn around the waist and were tied so that the decorative ends hung at knee level.

T.219-1958