Panel of brocaded velvetOttoman silk velvets made in the 16th century often have patterns based on Italian models. Here, an arched lattice links alternate rows of roundels with crimson grounds and yellow grounds. Only the presence of tiny tulip heads in the crimson-ground roundels suggests that this is an Ottoman textile. These tulip heads also help to date it. They were introduced in the 1550s, so this velvet must have been made after that time.VELVET
Turkish; 16th -17th century.
Floral pattern in silk pile on a gold ground. [10/1997]