Ottoman Gold-Embroidered Silk Tülbent, 19th Century (210 × 50 cm)
£2,000.00
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Ottoman tülbent (head scarf/shawl) with gold embroidery and a calligraphic border. Ottoman Empire, probably Istanbul-Bursa. 19th century. Ultra-fine silk gauze (plain 1/1); hand "sırma" gold embroidery (couching, satin, laid). Continuous celi sülüs/divani border; bouquet in mihrab/palmette cartouche; paired crescents and radiant stars. Produced for and used by affluent Muslim urban households in the late Ottoman period.
A long, lightweight scarf of very fine silk gauze (plain weave 1/1), intended to be worn on the head and shoulders (type tülbent). The decoration is executed in gold embroidery; by morphology and ornamentation it is ceremonial, used in festive or gift-giving contexts.
Where and how it may have been used
• As a tülbent/başörtüsü — a formal women's head-and-shoulder scarf for public outings: visits to the mosque, feast days (Bayram), family ceremonies. The 210 × 50 cm format, ultra-thin silk gauze, and gilded embroidery, unsuitable for everyday wear, point to this.
• As part of a dowry (çeyiz) — a "sırma işlemeli tülbent" was almost obligatory in a bride's chest. Worn rarely, more often displayed on kına gecesi (henna night) and at the wedding.
• Less commonly — as a personal prayer head covering in the mosque (a private "clean" head cloth).
The combination of features — a continuous calligraphic border with blessings and the crescent-and-star — gives the piece a ceremonial, "public" aesthetic: it was meant to be shown, not hidden.
Probable owner
• A woman from a prosperous urban household of the late Ottoman period (Istanbul/Bursa and major provincial centers): the wife or daughter of an official, military officer, scholar, or wealthy merchant.
Dimensions: 210 × 50 cm. Condition: fragile ground; central longitudinal tear with old darning (part reopened); local losses/weakening of metal thread; stains and uneven toning; minor pinholes/snags along folds; edges intact. Overall "fragile/fair".
Discreet note: the purchase of such a piece is not only a generous gift that signals profound regard for its recipient, but also a long-term investment.
Please study the accompanying photographs carefully as they form an integral part of this description. If you have any questions, we will be happy to answer them. The item will be shipped with full tracking and insurance.
Ottoman Gold-Embroidered Silk Tülbent, 19th Century (210 × 50 cm)
£2,000.00
A long, lightweight scarf of very fine silk gauze (plain weave 1/1), intended to be worn on the head and shoulders (type tülbent). The decoration is executed in gold embroidery; by morphology and ornamentation it is ceremonial, used in festive or gift-giving contexts.
Where and how it may have been used
• As a tülbent/başörtüsü — a formal women's head-and-shoulder scarf for public outings: visits to the mosque, feast days (Bayram), family ceremonies. The 210 × 50 cm format, ultra-thin silk gauze, and gilded embroidery, unsuitable for everyday wear, point to this.
• As part of a dowry (çeyiz) — a "sırma işlemeli tülbent" was almost obligatory in a bride's chest. Worn rarely, more often displayed on kına gecesi (henna night) and at the wedding.
• Less commonly — as a personal prayer head covering in the mosque (a private "clean" head cloth).
The combination of features — a continuous calligraphic border with blessings and the crescent-and-star — gives the piece a ceremonial, "public" aesthetic: it was meant to be shown, not hidden.
Probable owner
• A woman from a prosperous urban household of the late Ottoman period (Istanbul/Bursa and major provincial centers): the wife or daughter of an official, military officer, scholar, or wealthy merchant.
Dimensions: 210 × 50 cm. Condition: fragile ground; central longitudinal tear with old darning (part reopened); local losses/weakening of metal thread; stains and uneven toning; minor pinholes/snags along folds; edges intact. Overall "fragile/fair".
Discreet note: the purchase of such a piece is not only a generous gift that signals profound regard for its recipient, but also a long-term investment.
Please study the accompanying photographs carefully as they form an integral part of this description. If you have any questions, we will be happy to answer them. The item will be shipped with full tracking and insurance.