A North African silk and metal-thread embroidery

Linen ground in generally good condition, now with some small holes and minor tears. Sides original, folded under end sew. One end complete, other end incomplete. Metal thread with some minor oxidation, minor pulls and losses and abrasions; not extensive. Metal thread area is slightly detached in a few areas. Silk embroidery intact with very few very minor losses and generally in very good condition. Very minor spot stains to linen ground. In good condition.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

The multi-pointed stars embroidered in metal thread decorating this textile panel is a widely used design element in Islamic North African decorative arts. The roots of the eight-point star symbol are in early astronomy. The eight lines symbolize the four corners of a compass (north, south, east, and west) and time (two solstices and two equinoxes). In Islamic art the eight-pointed star, khatim, was used as a symbol for the seal of the prophets. Many Islamic scholars, including Abdullah bin Abbas and Rumi, interpreted the khatim and its variations, such as the Khatim an-Nabuwwah, the Seal of Prophethood unique to the Prophet Muhammad. For example, a diagram drawn by the Sufi mystic Ibn al-Arabi fills the design pattern of the khatim with much symbolism stating that "all phenomena are nothing but manifestations of Being, which is one with God." Even though al-Arabi's diagram is concerned with spirituality and not with ornamentation, the particular appeal of Sufism to North Africa may explain the prolific use of this design and its derivations. The eight-pointed version of this pattern was much-preferred by Moroccan craftsmen, who masterfully combined the hard-edged lines of these stars with curvilinear arabesques, creating powerful and contrasting designs. In this lot, the interlacing vines are not surrounding these stars but fill their fields, generating well-balanced and self-contained design elements. A Moroccan silk-embroidered star pattern, a complex multi-sided variation on the khatim, was sold Sotheby's London 12 October 2005, lot 1.