Two `çintamani' brocade `Kehma' fragments, Ottoman

two small shaped fragments of repeat pattern of large spheres incorporating a smaller sphere with `çintamani' - leopard spots in gold on cerise, surrounded by design of cloudbursts in blue on gold, on a cerise ground, both fragments mounted within a later glazed rectangular frame

Colours in reality are not as strident as in the catalogue photograph. Tonally quite a good match. They are cleaner colours and the appearance is crisper and more defined. Discolouration to lower section of left hand fragment, as visible in the photograph. Old fold lines present, with commensurate wear. Some abrasions to the cerise ground, as visible from the photograph. Beautifully drawn example.
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For a`çatma' fragment which incorporates similar delicate dense cloudbands within a design of large repeat motifs using the `çintamani' triple dot elements on different scales, and dated second half 16th century, see an example from the Benaki Museum (inv.3888), illustrated in Gürsu, Nevber, The Art of Turkish Weaving, opcit, pg.88, fig.68. Another Kehma fabric fragment, dated end of 16th century, from the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A 836-1904), uses groupings of large and small `çintamani' triple dot motifs, the large rumis incorporating dense scrollwork, but to similar effect, and using the same colour combination of gold, blue and cerise, illustrated, Gürsu, ibid., pg.102, fig.96.