1517~ / 1600~, Bursa

1517~ / 1600~, Bursa

Identifier
779-1892
Collection
Material
Technique
Depiction
Dimension
86 cm (length)
3.2 kg (weight)
49.5 cm (width)
Production time
Production place
Type of object

Description

A length of green woven silk in lampas weave, with inscriptions in a zigzag design. This piece of silk is from a tomb cover. Silks with this zigzag design on a green ground were made for the Prophet Muhammad’s tomb in Medina. The main inscription is the Shahadah, which reads, ‘There is no god but God. Muhammad is the messenger of God’. The narrower band below it mentions the first four caliphs, Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman and Ali. Caring for the Prophet’s tomb was a notable honour. When the Ottoman dynasty ruled Medina (1517–1916), special textiles were made to cover his tomb. Similar textiles were sent to decorate the Ka’bah in Mecca. Contact with the holy places imbued these covers with ‘barakah’ or divine grace. When the covers were renewed, pieces were preserved as relics. Jameel Gallery Section of the Cover of the Prophet's Tomb Turkey, probably Bursa 1517-1600 Silks with zigzag designs on a green ground were made for the Prophet Muhammad's tomb in Medina. The main inscription is the Shahadah, which reads, 'There is no god but God. Muhammad is the messenger of God.' The narrower band below it mentions the first four caliphs, Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman and Ali. Silk thread in lampas weave Museum no. 779-1892 [2006-2012] Green silk made for the Prophet's tomb in Medina, Turkey (probably Bursa), 1517-1600.