AN OTTOMAN TALISMANIC SHIRT, 19TH-20TH CENTURY

A shirt (jama) covered with text written in naskh, thuluth and Kufic scripts, in assorted colors, arranged in numerous panels, roundels, cartouches, cypress tree forms.
The inscriptions include quotations from the Quran, invocations to God, attributes of God and prayers. They are written in different styles of scripts different sizes in different shapes, patterns, mirrored form and reserved against text and in colors of black, red, green, blue, and gold.
To the front side with panels enclosing "Kalimmat Al-Tawhid" in thuluth script, and roundels containing the names of Allah, further stylised with Quran verses and foliage sprays. To the backside with a Talismanic numbers table surrounded by Quran verses in gold naskh and thuluth script and innovations and prayers.
Note: this talismanic shirt was believed to be imbued with protective powers and may have been meant to be worn under armor in battle.
107 by 125 cm.