Length of a lampas-woven textile; silk and metal lamella spun around a silk core
Turkey; 2nd half of 16th century

Davids Samling/The David Collection, Copenhagen

H: 158; W: 64.5 cm
Like Iznik ceramics and other decorative art, many of the Ottoman textiles were embellished with flowers from the local flora.

This magnificent silk brocade features lush, golden pomegranates enclosing roses, tulips, and little red flowers. The pomegranates are surrounded by blue hyacinths and bouquets of roses and tulips. The composition also includes three silver-colored _chintamani _balls. The pattern is composed of oval units that are repeated in staggered rows.

Both this kind of pattern and pomegranates were found frequently in Ottoman textiles after c. 1550, but the type can be traced back to the 13th century in the eastern Islamic world.

Inv. no. 6/1980