Belt - Ottoman - Gallery - Adorned Histories

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Belt - Ottoman

Posted by Peter Hoesli on February 15, 2015 at 2:07pm

This is one of my most favorite Ottoman belts. It features the original purple velvet. Velvet used to be imported from Germany, even in very old days. There is black velvet, which was the most common used. Then there is the dark blue, which looks very regal but is rare. Then there were some very rare other colored velvets used. Among others, purple colored velvet was imported to the Levant. Antique purple colored velvet is extremely difficult to obtain these days. This belt is very rare!

Comments

Betty February 15, 2015 at 8:04pm

A spectacular piece, Peter. As I said before: I am starting to run out of superlatives worthy of praising your collection.

Interesting info about the velvet! I vaguely remember reading that German velvet was also exported to Ethiopia.
Peter Hoesli February 15, 2015 at 8:24pm

Dear Betty; Many thanks for your message. Germany was leading in the manufacture of velvet. I have seen an absolutely magnificent velvet dress with three dimensional Ottoman gold embroidery with Mrs Widad Kawar. it was from Homs in Syria - absolutely stunning and very Ottoman/European cosmopolitan, however, well over 100 years old! During the embroidery process, the dress had to be sent to Turkey as some of the stitches could only be done there. I have some cushions of such embroidered (more simple than the dress but same style) dark blue velvet, which are very rare! They were not produced as cushions, but as envelopes to wrap the personal linen in old Syria. Absolutely gorgeous - an aera certainly gone by.... Regards. Peter