, Egypt, of irregular hexagonal form, the midnight blue field with a lobed medallion containing an elegant band of thuluth inscription, a tughra above and inscriptions below, a band of inscription across the top, the central field with a inscription panel flanked by two columns, all against leafy foliage, the borders with a band of leaves, approximately 227cm x 114cm
Provenance: From a Private Collection purchased by the current owner at Bonhams London, Islamic and Indian Art, lot 105, 1st May 2003
The inscriptions read (from top to bottom):
Qur'an, II, parts of verses 1-5; tughra of Abdulhamid II (AH 1293-1327/ AD 1876-1909); Qur'an, III, parts of 97;
In the middle, the names Allah and Mohamed;
At the bottom: "The Sultan Abdulhamid Khan (II), son of Abdulmecid, son of Mahmoud, son of Abdulhamid (I)".
The Hijaz was under Ottoman rule until 1923, and this kiswah is embroidered with the tughra of Abdulhamid II.
A similar curtain is in the Tareq Rajab Museum, Kuwait (N.F. Safwat, The Harmony of Letters, Singapore, 1997, pp. 114-5. Another example was sold at Christie's London, Islamic, Indian and Armenian Art and Manuscripts, 12th October 1999, lot 21
Condition Report:
some wear staining and losses
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