Description

These Ottoman silk embroidered sash ends date to the late 18th or early 19th century.

A sash, or uçkur, would have been worn as a decorative accessory both by men and women and would typically have measured around 210 to 230 cm in length. Only the decorated ends have survived in the piece in hand. It is densely embroidered in silk and metal thread, the latter having been wrapped around a silk core and partially corroded, in keeping with age.

A netted diamond shape with a central partition, most probably a vase, serves as the source for a tall ascending plant at each side of the sash ends. From this plant emanate multiple open flower heads, mainly in tones of gold and a very pale pink, to either side of the central plant which is marked by leaves in shades of gold and two hues of a pale green.Light blue tulip shaped flowers complete the display of florals.

A meander of gold coloured satin stitches around the same open flower heads found in the main body of the embroidery is punctuated by light blue and green leaves.

The embroidery is worked in a variety of stitches on a hand woven plain weave linen ground and is overall in excellent condition.

For further reading, see Sumru Belger Krody, Flowers of Silk & Gold. Four Centuries of Ottoman Embroidery. Washington D.C., The Textile Museum, 2000. This publication includes a catalogue of textiles with high quality colour illustrations, including some close-ups, as well as a useful glossary, mostly of stitches.