Ottoman Gilt Thread Embroidery Panels 1977

A pair of extraordinary 18th to early 19th century Ottoman gilt thread embroidery textile panels — rare survivals from the highest levels of Ottoman decorative art, when the workshops of Istanbul and Bursa were producing embroidered textiles of almost incomprehensible technical refinement for the imperial court and the great households of the Empire. Each panel is decorated with hand-stitched gold thread embroideries on a dark brown velvet foundation, backed by heavy material that gives the pieces their substantial presence.

Ottoman gold thread embroidery — known as dival işi — was among the most prestigious decorative arts of the Islamic world, reserved for the furnishing of mosques, palaces, and the ceremonial dress of the Sultan's household. Panels of this 18th century vintage are now museum-quality objects, and this pair in their remarkable state of preservation represents an acquisition of genuine historical significance.

Dimensions: 29" x 79" (each)

Date of Manufacture: 18th or Early 19th Century

Place of Origin: Ottoman Empire (Turkey)

Material: Gold thread embroidery on velvet

Condition: Wear consistent with age and use

SKU: 1977