AN OTTOMAN METAL-THREAD EMBROIDERED HIZAM, EARLY 20TH CENTURY

A large Ottoman silk, velvet and metal thread calligraphic band from the holy Kabaa (Hizam), of rectangular form embroidered with gilt and silver metal wires. To the centre a large silver cartouche with rounded ends enclosing in gold wires two verses of Quran 22 surah the Hajj (the Pilgrimage) v.26-v.27 in thuluth script with a band of meandering leafy silver vine above and below. Further flanked to both sides with two circular silver panels enclosing in gold wires surah Al-Ikhlas and the name of Sultan Abdul Hamid II with his tughra surrounded by Arabic inscriptions which means ‘this Hizam is ordered to be made for Waqf, charitable endowment, 1323 AH/1905 AD.

Approximately 700 by 92 cm.