Silk damask fragment, with ogival lattice pattern of cream lobed medallions containing red triple-dots and tiger stripes, reserved against red ground, probably Bursa, Ottoman Turkey, 1550-1600 Silk damask fragment, with ogival lattice pattern of cream lobed medallions containing crimson red triple-dots and tiger stripes, reserved against red ground. The spots and stripes are stylised representations of leopard and tiger skins, and may be the pattern referred to as pelenk (meaning leopard) in Ottoman sources. Jameel Gallery Animal Pelt Designs Pairs of wavy lines and groups of three large dots represent the pelts of the striped tiger and spotted leopard. In the Islamic world, the designs acquired powerful associations. The Iranian hero Rustam, for example, is usually depicted wearing a tiger-skin coat. By 1500, these designs were popular on Ottoman Turkish textiles, and were often combined. They soon appeared in other media, such as tilework. The triple-dot design has been confused with the Buddhist ‘precious jewel’ motif (Sanskrit cintamani), which is sometimes shown in groups of three. But there is no connection. 4 Silk Fragment Turkey, probably Bursa 1550–1600 Silk damask Museum no. 1071-1900 [20/09/2012]