AN IMPORTANT OTTOMAN METAL-THREAD CURTAIN OF THE HOLY KAABA DOOR (BURQA), WITH THE NAME OF SULTAN ABDULHAMID II, DATED 1307 AH/1890 AD AN IMPORTANT OTTOMAN METAL-THREAD CURTAIN OF THE HOLY KAABA DOOR (BURQA), WITH THE NAME OF SULTAN ABDULHAMID II, DATED 1307 AH/1890 AD

AN IMPORTANT OTTOMAN METAL-THREAD CURTAIN OF THE HOLY KAABA DOOR (BURQA), WITH THE NAME OF SULTAN ABDULHAMID II, DATED 1307 AH/1890 AD

Reference: ART3001753

Of rectangular form, embroidered in silver and silver-gilt thread over a black silk ground, the surface broken into cartouches of various shapes and sizes containing inscriptions in naskh and thuluth, the interstices filled with vegetal designs, a large silver inscription (1) halfway up on cream ground enclosing Quran 48 surah Al-Fath or Triumph, flawed by four red circular panels with the name of the Four caliphs, Stylised further with four cartouches (2) enclosing Ayat Al-Kursi the throne verse, the 255th verse of the 2nd surah of the Quran.The upper section with archways (4) stylised with mosque lamps with (3) Quran 17 surah Al-Isra v. 80, flanked by panels containing the Shahada.The middle section with two octagonal panels(5) enclosing surah Al-Ikhlas and Quran 48 Al-Fath v. 29. Between the two panels the name of the Sultan Abdul Hamid II (7) with the dating 1307 AH/1889 AD in gilt thread on black ground. On either side of door slip (8) Quran 39th surah Al-Zumar v. 53. below two cartouches (6) enclosing Quran 104 surah Quraysh with four verses. On both sides of the door slip two designs of Mihrab (9), a semicircular niche in the wall of a mosque that indicates the qibla, containing the Shahada and praises of the prophet. The lower section with archways (10) stylised with flowers and enclosing Quran 144 surah Al-Bakara with two fans knotted by a ribbon and flower scrolls. Framed by cartouches (11) of Al-Fatiha, the opening of the Quran with surah Al-Ikhlas (12) at to the top. All surrounded with circulars of the ninety-nine attributions of Allah(13) The silver thread slightly oxidized, small tears in the silk, conserved, sleeve for hanging attached at top, rebacked. 580 by 280 cm.