An Ottoman voided silk velvet and metal-thread panel (yastik), Turkey, Bursa or Istanbul, late 16th/early 17th century

Ex-private collection, USA

This velvet is designed around a central ogival medallion on a monumental scale. The motif relates to the Ottoman arts of the book and comparable medallions with pendants at each end are found in contemporaneous book bindings (see a binding sold in these rooms, 7 October 2009, lot 57). Ottoman textile designers were creative in their use of the motif incorporating it into elaborate ogival lattices enriched with minor motifs (see Mackie 2015, p.297, fig.8:15) or in its most minimalist form, as displayed by the present lot.

A closely related velvet is in the Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg (inv. no.VТ-677) and another is published in HALI, no.68, p.111. Whereas the above examples both display minor motifs within the spandrels and the central medallion, the present lot draws on the graphic power of a minimalist design in which the crimson velvet creates a stark contrast against the ivory ground. The weaver has skilfully incorporated an outline of pistachio-green that adds depth to the design without distracting from the strength of its primary motifs. Moreover, they have alternated the direction of the rays in each of the minor sunbursts that flank the ogival subtly creating movement to an otherwise static composition. An almost identical velvet, although lacking the lappet borders at each end is in the Textile Museum, Washington (acc. no.1:62).