AN OTTOMAN SILK AND METAL-THREAD CURTAIN, WITH THE TUGHRA OF SULTAN MAHMUD II (1223-55 AH/1808-39 AD)

Of rectangular form, the green silk ground applied with red and orange cartouches and roundels, embroidered with silver and silver-gilt metal threads, with central roundels below a calligraphic band and roundel at peak, the tughra of Sultan Mahmud flanked by two spiralling columns and framed by a pattern of foliate and floral motifs.
101 by 204.5 cm.

RROVENANCE
Sotheby’s London, 7 October 2009, lot 62

CATALOGUE NOTE
Inscriptions in the roundel:
A hadith of the Prophet.
In the middle panel: Quran surah Muhammad (XLVII), parts of 19, followed by 'Muhammad the Messenger of God', followed by the signature of Sultan Mahmud in tughra form: 'Mahmud the conqueror son of 'Abd al-Hamid wrote it'.
In the two roundels: The shahada.
With the tughra of Sultan Mahmud II (A.H. 1223-55/A.D. 1808-39).