Textile ArtsOttoman17th century

Cenotaph Cover

17th century

Description

The Prophet Muhammad was buried in the southeastern corner of his mosque in Medina. Like the annual textiles sent to furnish the Kaʿba in Mecca, special textiles were made for the Prophet’s tomb. These included silk curtains and door covers. This kind of green-ground zig-zag textile once formed part of an interior fabric for his tomb. Its thuluth inscriptions focus on prayers upon God, Muhammad, and the four orthodox caliphs and companions of the prophet. It was likely later cut up and reused as a tomb cover.

Classification

Textile Arts

Technique

Lampas

Medium

Compound silk weave; green satin warp-faced ground, patterned with white wefts binding in plain

Culture

Ottoman

Period

Ottoman period

Century

17th century

Division

Asian and Mediterranean Art

Department

Department of Islamic & Later Indian Art

Dimensions

138 x 67.5 cm (54 5/16 x 26 9/16 in.)

Provenance

Stuart Cary Welch (by 1999 - 2008,) by descent; to his estate (2008-2009,) gift; to Harvard Art Museum. Notes: Object was part of long-term loan to Museum in 1999.