Publication Date
Tenth century / late sixteenth century
Publication Place
-
Victoria and Albert Museum
Subject
Woven silk embroidered with golden threads.
Type
Other
Language
Undetermined
Digital
Yes
Manuscript
No
Physical Dimensions
الطول: 72 سم؛ العرض: 72.2 سم
Library
Museum With No Frontiers
Library Asset ID
753–1884
Record ID
object;ISL;uk;Mus02;34;ar
Library Location
Victoria and Albert Museum
Date
Tenth century / late sixteenth century
Notes
The front half of a child's kaftan woven in white, blue and gold on a red satin ground (the back half of the kaftan was transferred to the National Museum of Scotland in the 19th century). The decorative pattern consists of a repeated wavy line believed to have been inspired by the tiger skin armor of the legendary Iranian hero Rostam. Similar patterns can be found on many Ottoman artefacts from the 16th century onwards (e.g. the 18th-century fireplace in the Victoria and Albert Museum (UK2 37)). This type of caftan was worn by children during the Ottoman period, whether they were princes or servants. It is believed that the horizontal stripes indicated the rank of the wearer of the caftan. When the owner died, part of his formal dress was placed folded over his coffin. Then rugs and other textiles were placed around it, and they were changed periodically. This custom preserved the original clothes for a long time. It is believed that a dress belonged to Sultan Selim I, who died in 926/ 1520, it was preserved above his grave until the middle of the twentieth century.
Sample Text
Barry Wood “Kaftan” in Discover Islamic Art. Museum Without Borders, 2026. https://islamicart.museumwnf.org/database_item.php?id=object;ISL;uk;Mus02;34;ar
