A Complete Cover for a Damascus Mahmal
Title:
A Complete Cover for a Damascus Mahmal
Location: Istanbul, Turkey
Materials: green silk, with red and gold-coloured silk appliqués, relief-embroidered in silver and silver-gilt wire over cotton thread padding
Dimensions: approximate height 370cm
Accession Number: TXT 493
Script:
The front of the cover of the pyramidal roof carries the tughra of Sultan Mahmud II, embroidered in silver on gold ground. Below it is a red cartouche embroidered with Surat al-Ahzab, verse 56, which is always found on Damascus mahmals. The central band, which is embroidered with the Ayat al-Kursi (‘verse of the Throne’; Surat al-Baqarah, verse 255) carries the signature cartouche of Abdulmajid I, the son of Mahmud II. Like his father, Abdulmajid was an accomplished calligrapher and this inscription was very likely based on his handwriting.
The set also includes corner and side banners and 5 silver-inlaid copper finials. For other Damascus mahmals in the Collection, see TXT 289 and TXT 478. For a photograph of a similar Damascus mahmal, see ARC.pp 166.
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