A late 18th century Ottoman embroidered panel 

The plain weave linen ground with rose blossoms, palmettes, flowerbuds and leaves worked in silk in diagonal lines of double running stitch and metal wrapped thread in satin stitch, with the larger motifs edged with double running stitch and borne on leafy stems in satin stitch. The narrow band at the end consisting of drawnwork cruciform devices.

This textile is the end panel of a towel, or peşkir, which would originally have had a similar opposing design embroidered at the other end of a plain, undecorated centre; or of a bath wrap, which would have been made up of three such widths of linen. If the former, it is possible that it was intended as a nuptial towel, made as part of the bride’s dowry and then cut by the participating families.

A cushion cover of similar design and work is in the collection of the V & A, acc. no. 2036-1876, while a comparable towel end and bath wrap may be found in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, object no. 79.1.285a, and the V & A, acc. no. 1188 to B-1903 respectively.

The textile 53.5cm (21⅛”) high and 52cm (20½”) wide, mounted on board.

In a frame 57.8cm (22¾”) high and 45.1cm (17¾”) wide.