Turkish, Bursa Turkey

Sinuous floral garlands weave between gold abstracted carnations in this silk velvet textile. The form of the carnations evokes the tree-of-life motif popular in Indian design, which was familiar to Turkish artisans through generations of trade. Another cross-cultural motif—the chintamani—is found within the petals of the carnation. Defined by three circles in triangular formation, this design originated in Buddhist imagery, including the paintings in Central Asia’s Mogao caves (ca. 1000 CE), and may represent pearls and flames. The chintamani also relates to Turkish crescent-and-horn designs from the first century. These references were expertly woven together in a textile workshop in Bursa, Turkey, creating a distinctly Ottoman style.