TURKEY, 19TH CENTURY

This panel is finely embroidered in the Ottoman dival technique which was used for production of similar panels such as the 19^th century curtains covering the Rawdah a-Mutahara (see for example Hulya Tezcan, Sacred Covers of Islamic Holy Shrines, Istanbul, 2017, pl. 84, pp.332-333). The dival technique differs from the earlier methods of embroidery and produces extremely detailed and sharp designs as seen on our example. This is as a result of embroidering the gold and silver threads on to cardboard templates. Although it is not possible to link this covering to a specific monument, it is highly likely that it was used as a wall hanging or curtain for a religious monument. The use of the two verses from surat al-yunis are protective and amuletic excerpts from the Qur’an which were used on textiles, architecture and objects to enhance their talismanic properties