Curtain for the Minbar (Pulpit) of the Holy Sanctuary at Mecca

Date: AH 1365 (AD 1946)

Location: Dar al-Kiswah, Cairo, Egypt

Materials: silk, embroidered in silver and silver-gilt wire over cotton thread padding

Dimensions: 212 x 125cm

Accession Number: TXT 503

Other Notes:

This is an exceptionally fine example of the high quality of embroidery produced by the craftsmen of Dar al-Kiswah in the mid 20th century. Very few of the curtains made for the Meccan minbar survive, and none of the known examples predates the early 20th century.