Description:

 AN OTTOMAN METAL-THREAD EMBROIDERED MOSQUE DOOR PORTIERE, 19TH CENTURY
Turkey, 19th century

Description:
A large and intricately worked textile mosque door hanging (portiere), composed of brown cotton or linen ground elaborately embroidered with metal thread in symmetrical floral and vegetal motifs. The design centres around a cusped arch niche with radiating sunbursts, lotus blossoms, and rosette motifs, evoking the architectural forms of mihrabs. The embroidery is worked in couched silver and gilt thread, and the reverse is lined in plain cotton.

Dimensions: Approx. 340 x 215 cm

This richly embroidered mosque portiere was likely used to cover the entrance to a prayer space or mihrab niche, embodying the Ottoman tradition of integrating textile artistry into sacred architecture. The use of sunburst and palmette designs within the arched format is distinctive of Ottoman aesthetic principles in the 19th century.

Comparable examples:

  • A similar Ottoman embroidered mosque curtain sold at Christie’s, London, Art of the Islamic and Indian Worlds, 26 April 2012, Lot 204, for £10,000.

  • A large Ottoman embroidered door hanging with metallic thread, 19th century, sold at Bonhams, Islamic and Indian Art, 21 October 2020, Lot 147, for £9,375.

  • A comparable Ottoman portiere with central mihrab arch motif achieved £11,875 at Sotheby’s, Arts of the Islamic World, 24 October 2018, Lot 118.

Note:
Such textiles were typically commissioned for donation to mosques or religious institutions and often exhibit high craftsmanship in both design and technique. Ottoman metal-thread embroidery reached a technical and artistic peak during the 19th century, with textiles serving not only as functional elements but also as expressions of piety and patronage

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

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
£0 £99 £5
£100 £199 £10
£200 £499 £20
£500 £999 £50
£1,000 £1,999 £100
£2,000 £4,999 £200
£5,000 £9,999 £500
£10,000 £19,999 £1,000
£20,000 £49,999 £2,000
£50,000 £99,999 £5,000
£100,000 £199,999 £10,000
£200,000 £499,999 £20,000
£500,000 £999,999 £50,000
£1,000,000 + £100,000