Fragment of a silk textile, single-sided samitum
Turkey; 16th-17th century

Davids Samling/The David Collection, Copenhagen

H: 38; W: 64 cm
This textile – like one made somewhat later (20/1971) – served as a cover for the tomb of a holy man or important Muslim.

The profession of faith, “There is no god but God and Muhammad is His messenger,” was woven in with elegant Thuluth calligraphy. In smaller, slightly wrinkled Naskh is the sentence, “Help from God and imminent victory: Proclaim the good message to the believers.”

The textile’s design is highly reminiscent of the one that was commissioned by Sultan Suleyman the Magnificent (1520-1566). The museum’s textile, however, is unusual in that the texts are read alternately from above and below.

Inv. no. 42/1998