Description:

AN OTTOMAN MEVLEVI DERVISH TURBAN WRAP, 19TH/20TH CENTURY
Ottoman Empire, 19th/20th century

Description:
A traditional Ottoman dervish turban wrap associated with the Mevlevi Sufi order, composed of thickly padded, emerald-green fabric coiled into a rounded form. This distinctive wrap, worn atop a tall felt cap (sikke), was part of the ceremonial attire used by Mevlevi dervishes during spiritual rituals, most notably the whirling sema. The fabric is stitched in wide bands and finished with a long trailing end, indicative of formal dervish dress.

In the present display, the turban is mounted on a conical stand made of natural felt for support, though this is not part of the original wearable ensemble. The green colour is symbolically significant within Islamic tradition, often representing paradise, sanctity, or the Prophet’s family—its use here marking religious devotion and identity within the Mevlevi tradition.

The turban remains in good condition, with minor expected wear to the fabric and light creasing from age and storage.

Dimensions:
Height (including mount): 54cm
Diameter of wrap: approx. 34cm

Comparable examples:

  • A green Mevlevi turban wrap, Ottoman period, Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts, Istanbul, inv. no. 892. 

  • A similar ceremonial dervish headpiece, Bonhams, Islamic and Indian Art, London, 25 October 2016, Lot 138. 

  • A Mevlevi Sufi wrap with comparable construction, Sotheby’s, Arts of the Islamic World, London, 6 October 2021, Lot 21, sold for £3,250.

Provenance:
Formerly in a European private collection

Note:
Turban wraps such as this played a central role in Ottoman Mevlevi ritual attire. Unlike civilian turbans, their form, colour, and construction were tied directly to mystical symbolism and spiritual rank. Green, in particular, was worn by dervishes of advanced standing or special religious association.

 

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May 6, 2025 1:00 PM BST
London, United Kingdom

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£2,000 £4,999 £200
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£10,000 £19,999 £1,000
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