Towel
1800–1850
Cotton, plain weave; embroidered with silk, metal strip, and metal-strip-wrapped silk
198.6 × 67 cm (78.2 × 26.4 in)
SEE IT IN PERSON
Not currently on view
In the collection of Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago · as of July 2026
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FROM THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO’S CATALOG
The lustrous silk threads in this embroidered towel evoke the light and color of a garden in summer. The Ottomans were known for their love of flowers. Roses, carnations , hyacinths, irises, and tulips bloomed in magnificant gardens along the Bosporus. Flowers adorned luxury objects and were a popular subject for embroidery. Embroiderers--both men and women--worked from designs drawn onto the ground (or base) fabrics, creating endless variety in the patterns by carefully choosing different threads and stitches.
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