17th-18th century
Turkey
Object qualities
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Objecttomb decoration / urn: Tomb cover
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Type of arts & crafts
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MediumSilk; lampas
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SizeTextile: H. 38 1/4 in. (97.2 cm) W. 26 3/4 in. (67.9 cm) Mount: H. 42 1/16 in. (106.8 cm) W. 30 5/8 in. (77.8 cm) D. 1 3/8 in. (3.5 cm)
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Geography detailsAttributed to
Turkey -
Country today
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Date17th-18th century
Source of information
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Type of sourceDatabase “Metropolitan Museum of Art”
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Fund that the source refers toMetropolitan Museum of Art
Description
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This rectangular silk textile shows a design of chevron bands containing calligraphic inscriptions comprising verses of the Qur’an, invocations to God, and the shahada, or Muslim profession of faith (“There is no God but God, and Muhammad is his Messenger”). This type of textile covered important Ottoman tombs, and recalls the kiswa fabrics woven in similar designs, but of much larger scale, annually sent by the Ottoman sultans to adorn the Ka’ba in Mecca.