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

Of rectangular form, embroidered in silver and gilt thread over a black silk ground, the surface broken into cartouches and panels of various shapes and sizes containing inscriptions in thuluth script, the interstices filled with vegetal designs. A large silver inscription (1) halfway up on black ground enclosing Quran 48 surah Al-Fath or Triumph v. 27, above and below (2) four panels containing Quran 2 surah Al-Baqarah, Ayat Al-Kursi. At the top a large panel with a cartouche enclosing Quran 3 surah Al-Imraan v.133 with four Qandeels surrounding Quran 24 surah Al-Nur v.35. On either side of door slip a verse from Quran 39 surah Al-Zumar v. 53 and two large roundels stylized with surah Al-Ikhlas and Quran 48 Quran Al-Fath v. 29 in silver wires on a black silk ground. On both sides of the door slip panels containing Kalimaat Al-Tawhid and Quran 106 surah Quraysh with four verses. The lower section with two panels with the inscriptions: 'this sitara is made by the order of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Fahd bin Abdulaziz Al Saud', 1422 AH/ 2001 AD. On a dense design of gilt floral motifs. All surrounded by a border containing cartouches enclosing surah Al-Fatiha. The silver thread slightly oxidized, small tears in the silk, conserved, rebacked. 330 by 620 cm.