41
Ottoman Scorpion Ogive
Kaitag region, south-west Daghestan
Mid-19th century or earlier
63 x 103 cm
silk embroidery on silk
A dazzling local version of an Ottoman large-scale medallion design. The single large ogival medallion is made up of five concentric bands and alternating scalloped plants and crescent-filled leaves. The inner band is filled with scorpion shapes, while the next band has two small finials, each consisting of a pair of horns. The spandrels are quarter-medallions, similar to the main medallion.
The ground is almost entirely covered by laid and couched stitch in nine colours, with bold flat stitch outlines in alternating colours. The red tested as madder, the yellow as luteolin and apigenin, the gold as luteolin and the green as luteolin, apigenin and indigo-sulphonic acid.
text and images © Sakip
Sabanci Museum, Istanbul
and textile-art, London, 2007:
not to be reproduced without permission