Sash, Turkish, nineteenth century

Sash, cotton embroidered with silk in double darning, double darning on the diagonal, double running in a line and satin stitch, and with metal thread in double darning on the diagonal and satin stitch. The meandering narrow border along either end is of a metal thread interspersed with four-petalled flowers, each with a coloured silk centre, either blue or pink. The main border contains two large floral sprays worked predominantly in metal thread. The main features are a central pink and gold flower at the base with a pair of light blue and gold flowers above. Above this is a pair of upward pointing gold stems each bearing tiny round gold fruit and at the top of the spray are three stylised gold and red tulips.
One side has been cut and hemmed.

Given by Lady Hudson

Registered File number 1962/2255

Turkish people wore sashes round their waists. They tied them so that the decorative ends hung at knee level. 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.67-1963