AN OTTOMAN TALISMANIC SHIRT, 18TH CENTURY

A shirt (jama) covered with text written in naskh, thuluth and Kufic scripts, in assorted colors, arranged in numerous panels, roundels, cartouches, cypress tree forms.
The inscriptions include quotations from the Quran, invocations to Allah, attributes of Allah and prayers, names of Allah and verse from the Quran.
They are written in Kufic, naskh and thuluth script in different sizes and shapes, patterns, mirrored form and reserved against text and in colors of black, red, blue, and gold.
To the reverse different panels enclosing the names of Allah and different surahs of the Quran, Talismanic numbers and Quran verses, surround by gilt lotus, flowers and foliage.
Height 101 cm.
Width 123 cm.

CATALOGUE NOTE
This talismanic shirt was believed to be imbued with protective powers and may have been meant to be worn under armor in battle.