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Lot 117

An Ottoman embroidered velvet namazlik Prayer Cloth
Turkey, late 19th Century

8 April 2014, 10:30 BST
London, New Bond Street

£2,000 - £3,000

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An Ottoman embroidered velvet namazlik Prayer Cloth
Turkey, late 19th Century

dark red velvet formed of two panels sewn together with applied trim band either end, embroidered in the dival style with metallic-wrapped thread, cotton and sequins
205 x 108 cm.

Footnotes

Provenance: Private Greek collection.

Dival embroidery was done either in workshops, or by professional embroiderers at home. It is sometimes referred to as maras isi after the town of Maras in south eastern Turkey where embroiderers excelled in this type of work. This embroidery required large equipment and strength to punch holes for the threaded needle through the thick fabric. Because of this, they were produced by professionals and bought in the bazaars, and only brought out on special occasions. (S. Krody, Flowers of Silk and Gold, Washington, 2000, ch. 27, nos. 22, 42 and 56).

Additional information