Jameel Gallery
Silk with Lattice Design
Turkey, probably Bursa
1550-1600
Woven silks called <i>kemha</i> in Turkish were the mainstay of the luxury silk-weaving industry in the 16th century. This example has large areas of gold made with silk thread wrapped in silver-gilt foil. Such beautiful and striking silks were used for diplomatic gifts and courtiers' kaftans.
Silk with metal-wrapped thread in lampas weave
Museum no. 763-1900 [2006-2012]