Drape
Category
Textiles
Date
1800 - 1900
Materials
silk satin, metal thread, silver wire, gold wire & wool
Measurements
700 mm (D)
Order this imageCollection
Kedleston Hall, Derbyshire
NT 107328
Summary
Green silk roundel with Kufic script embroidered around a central circle that also contains Arabic writing. This has been described as an homage to the Kiswah, which is the drape that is used to cover the Ka'bah, the sacred mosque at Makkah (Mecca). It traditionally contains the Muslim profession of faith (Shahadah) 'There is no god but Allah, Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah' as well as other inscriptions from the Qur'an. 'A green satin roundel embroidered with silver and silver-gilt wire: used to decorate the 'Kisweh'' (Christie's entry). The roundel has a black border of cut, frayed edge- it appears to have been cut out of a larger textile.
Provenance
Purchased in 1986 by the National Heritage Memorial Fund from Francis Curzon, 3rd Viscount Scarsdale (1924-2000). Gifted to the National Trust in 1987 by the National Heritage Memorial Fund.