AN OTTOMAN METAL-THREAD CURTAIN OF THE DOOR OR BAB AL-SALAAM IN AL-MASJID AL-HARAM

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 script, the interstices filled with vegetal designs. The main design of consists of two large calligraphic mosque lamps framed by an arch with wreath and garlanded spandrels supported by twisted columns, enclosing wreaths and inscriptions with the tughra of Sultan Mahmud, further ruled by cartouches enclosing inscriptions and Arabesque scrolls.
300 by 375 cm.

The inscriptions:
Three lines of gilt-metal threads in thuluth script of Quran 59 surah Al-Hashr v-21-v.24 and Quran 33 surah Al-Ahzab v.41-.46.
Within the roundels on green and red ground the names of 'Ten Mubashrun/ the ten promised paradise'.
The lamps enclosing the basnmallah and v.46 of surah Al-Hejr in mirror image and flanked by two roundels of 'Allah and Muhammed'.
Three roundels of foliage branches enclosing Kalimaat al-Tawhid and 'This sitara of Bab al-Salaam'.
On both sides in the half mihrab decoration Quran 48 surah Al-Fath v.27 and v.29.
The border with cartouches enclosing invocations to Allah and praising the prophet.

CATALOGUE NOTE
Baab-As-Salaam is one of the gates at the Great Mosque of Mecca in Saudi Arabia meaning 'Gate of Peace'. It has been a tradition for first time visitors to the mosques to enter the Great Mosque of Mecca through this gate.
This gate is located in the stretch between Mount Safa and Marwaah.