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Velvet with a chintamani pattern, silk and metal lamella
Turkey; mid-16th century

Davids Samling/The David Collection, Copenhagen


H: 95; W: 114 cm
The chintamani pattern is most often associated with the art of the Ottoman Empire, but it is older and probably originated with the Central Asian Turkic peoples. It has been convincingly interpreted as a combination of the tiger’s stripes and the leopard’s spots, and as such refers especially to manly courage.

The pattern is found in different variations, and both the number of the elements and their position may differ. In this striking example, each spot was given two extra spots and the stripes were placed diagonally. In addition, an almost octopus-like Chinese cloud ornament was added.

The famed Ottoman textile industry had its center in Bursa, but many of the patterns were designed in the royal studio in Istanbul.

Inv. no. 25/1962