An Important Curtain from the Tawassul at Medina, Ottoman, 19th Century

of rectangular form, the silver and silver-gilt metal threads embroidered on a black and coloured silk ground with a calligraphic cartouche on a red silk ground with further calligraphic roundels surrounded by wreaths, garlands and ribbons, with foliate 'C' scroll borders

inscriptions
In the top cartouche:

hadhi al-sitara al-sharifah li-bab al-tawassul

'This noble cover is for the noble Tawassul door'

In the horizontal cartouche: Qur'an, surah al-Baqara (II), parts of 197.

In the two roundels: The shahada

In the centre: Qur'an, surah al-Baqara (II), 255.

In the small roundels: The names of the Orthodox Caliphs as well as the Imams Hasan and Husayn