AN OTTOMAN METAL-THREAD CURTAIN OF THE HOLY KAABA DOOR (BURQA)

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, a large silver inscription (1) halfway up on gilt metal-threads ground enclosing Quran 48 surah Al-Fath or Triumph v.27, above and below (3) four panels containing Quran 2 surah Al-Baqarah, Ayat Al-Kursi All above (2) two large roundels stylized with Surah Al-Ikhlas in silver wires on a gilt embroidered ground, flanked between them a small Mihraab decoration with the name of the Ottoman Sultan Abdul Majid and dating of 1269 AH/1852 AD.

At the top (5) a large cartouche within a mihraab decoration enclosing Quran 17 surah Al-Isra v.80 on a silver embroidered ground, below (6) two small round sided panels containing surah Al-Ikhlas and above (4) four Mihraabs each decorated with Quran 24 surah Al-Nur v.35 above two crossed swords with floral motifs.

On either side of door slip surah al-Ikhlas below a large panel (8) containing Quran 106 surah Quraysh with four verses. On both sides of the door slip two roundels (7) with Kalimaat al-Tawhid, 3 beautiful names of Allah and praises of the prophet. The lower section with archways enclosing date trees on a black ground. All surrounded by a border containing cartouches enclosing surah Al-Fatiha. The silver thread slightly oxidized, small tears in the silk, conserved, rebacked. 360 by 180 cm.