AN OTTOMAN METAL-THREAD CURTAIN OF THE HOLY KAABA DOOR (BURQA), EGYPT OR TURKEY AN OTTOMAN METAL-THREAD CURTAIN OF THE HOLY KAABA DOOR (BURQA), EGYPT OR TURKEY AN OTTOMAN METAL-THREAD CURTAIN OF THE HOLY KAABA DOOR (BURQA), EGYPT OR TURKEY AN OTTOMAN METAL-THREAD CURTAIN OF THE HOLY KAABA DOOR (BURQA), EGYPT OR TURKEY AN OTTOMAN METAL-THREAD CURTAIN OF THE HOLY KAABA DOOR (BURQA), EGYPT OR TURKEY

AN OTTOMAN METAL-THREAD CURTAIN OF THE HOLY KAABA DOOR (BURQA), EGYPT OR TURKEY

Reference: ART3004710

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 halfway up on gilt embroidered ground enclosing Quran 48 surah Al-Fath or Triumph v. 27, Stylised further with four cartouches enclosing Ayat Al-Kursi "the throne verse " from surah Al-Baqarah v.266.

The upper section with four Basmallah shaped mosque lamps in mirror style, above a rectangular cartouch enclosing Quran 17 surah Al-Isra v. 80.
At the top two panels enclosing surah al-Ikhlas with a roundels enclosing " my God is Allah".

The middle section with two roundels enclosing surah al-Ikhlas. In the tear-shaped hanging between the two panels " this curtain was ordered by the Sultan Abdulmejid I Khan Ibn Mahmud II Khan in 1256 AH (1840AD) in gilt thread on yellow ground. On either side of door slip embroidered with surah al-Ikhlas, below two cartouches enclosing Quran 104 surah Quraysh with four verses.
On both sides two panels containing prominent inscriptions in gilt wires with Kalimaat al-Tawhid. All above within a border caontaining cartouches enclosing inscriptions in gilt wires of surah Al-Fatiha. The outer border with floral motifs amongst a dense design of foliage.

240 by 540 cm.

The four walls of the Ka'ba, the holiest site in Islam, are covered with a curtain (kiswa) with the shahada outlined in the weave, and about two thirds of the way up runs a gold embroidered band (hizam) covered with Qur'anic verses. Over the door is a curtain (sitara or burqa) and inside the Ka'ba are other textiles, including the Bab al-Tawba, or curtain door leading to the roof and various colourful textiles with chevron designs (London 2012, p.257). The present curtain would have been intended for use over the door and is impressive in its size and workmanship.