Wall-hanging with Multiple Niches (Saff)

Location: probably Morocco

Materials: silk brocade, made in three sections

Dimensions: 187 x 561cm

Accession Number: TXT 27

Other Notes:

The design, colour and technique are all characteristic of silks woven in Spain from the 13th to the 15th centuries. On the expulsion of Jews and Muslims from the Kingdom of Granada following its conquest by the Catholic kings in 1492, many craftsmen moved to Morocco, where they continued to work in their customary style. Moroccan textiles were highly popular furnishing materials in Istanbul. Indeed, the most famous specimens of saff , or multiple-niche, hangings are from Ottoman campaign tents captured at the Relief of Vienna in 1683.

Bibliography:

J.M. Rogers, The Arts of Islam. Masterpieces from the Khalili Collection, London 2010, cat.386, pp.326–7.