embroidered, 1800s, Persian; Whitework Plain weave cotton, probably hand woven, embroidered with silk in straight stitches, needleweaving, pulled thread work and cutwork; whitework. The central area in the form of a stepped mihrab niche has a small block of cut work and needlewoven decoration in each corner [in the form of small squares with an inner lozenge]. The niche, or arch, itself is outlined with a wide band of needleweaving [note the fact that needleweaving cannot be done on the diagonal], outlined with small triangles of straight stitch. From the apex a pendant rectangular form [mosque lamp?] repeating the decorative stitching. The whole is framed by a composite band of: [a] row of tiny triangles of straight stitch [b] a narrow band of needlewoven hexagons; [c] alternate rectangles of cutwork and needlwoven squares containing a lozenge infill and squares of straight stitch stepped lozenges; [d] as [b]; [e] as [a]. Cotton thread: Z-spun Embroidery Thread: white silk; 2S