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 |