AN OTTOMAN EMBROIDERED SILK KISWA, 19TH CENTURY

AN OTTOMAN EMBROIDERED SILK KISWA, 19TH CENTURY

A fragment of silk hanging panel of the inner kiswa of al-Rawda al-Sharifa, with an inscribed weave in cream color over a light sky-blue ground. Embellished with a prominent inscription within a broad border in thuluth script of praise of the prophet ‘Prayer and peace be upon you, O Messenger of Allah’. Below with a narrow band containing prayers for the four righteous caliphs Abu Bakr, ‘Umar, ‘Uthman and ‘Ali as well as for the companions of the Prophet. At the top with a narrow band enclosing ‘O Allah, bless the Prophet Muhammad, the Seal of Prophets and Messengers’.
136 by 141 cm.