A METAL-THREAD EMBROIDERED SILK PANEL OF THE DOOR OF BAB AL-SALAM, OTTOMAN, MAHMUD II (REIGNED 1808-39)

Of rectangular form, embroidered in silver and gilt threads over a green silk ground, the surface broken into cartouches of various shapes and sizes containing inscriptions in thuluth, the interstices filled with vegetal designs and floral scrolls, a large gilt inscription (5) halfway up on green silk ground enclosing Quran 2 verse 255 ayat Al-Kursi, ‘The Throne Verse’, one of the best-known verses of the Quran and is widely memorized and displayed in the Islamic world. Flanked on both sides with six small roundels (4) enclosing the name of four Caliphs, Hassan and Hussein. Above the central panel two roundels (3) enclosing Al-Shahada or Kalimaat al-Tawhid surrounded by flower scrolls. The lower section (6) with the tughra of the Sultan in gilt and silver thread. The upper section with crimson band (1) enclosing ‘hadihi al-sitara al-sharifah li-bab al-salam’. This panel was made for the gate of peace”, and Quran 26 surah Al-Shu‘ara, the Poets vv.193-195. All surrounded with arabesques and vegetal motifs in silver and gilt thread.
230 by 194 cm.

CATALOGUE NOTE
The as-Salam Gate (باب السلام, Bab as-Salam), literally meaning the the Gate of Peace, is one of the gates at al-Masjid al-Haram of Mecca in Saudi Arabia. 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.
There's a gate of Masjid an-Nabawi with the same name of as-Salam Gate as well.