Brocaded silk with foliate medallions from a kaftan

1525–75
Overall: 105.7 x 49.5 cm (41 5/8 x 19 1/2 in.); Mounted: 110.5 x 54.6 cm (43 1/2 x 21 1/2 in.)
You can copy, modify, and distribute this work, all without asking permission. Learn more about CMA's Open Access Initiative.
Location: not on view

Download, Print and Share

Description

Medallions enriched with floral and foliate decoration were signature Ottoman patterns during the height of silk textile production in the second half of the 1500s. Imperial kaftans with related patterns are preserved in the Topkapi Palace Museum in Istanbul along with those worn by young princes. In this splendid length from a kaftan, abundant silver-thread flora and overlapping leaves on vines enliven medallions in the densely woven fabric. It is a combination of two weaves, called lampas, which creates two contrasting surfaces composed of vertical warps and horizontal wefts.
Brocaded silk with foliate medallions from a kaftan

Brocaded silk with foliate medallions from a kaftan

1525–75

Turkey, Istanbul, Ottoman period

Visually Similar Artworks

Contact us

The information about this object, including provenance, may not be currently accurate. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@clevelandart.org.

To request more information about this object, study images, or bibliography, contact the Ingalls Library Reference Desk.

All images and data available through Open Access can be downloaded for free. For images not available through Open Access, a detail image, or any image with a color bar, request a digital file from Image Services.