Purple Velvet Jacket | Ottoman Empire

Description

Origin: Ottoman Empire
Era: 19th century (pre-1900)
Condition: good; light wear to velvet fabric and along edges; couple small stress tears by underarm area on both sleeves; very small hole in velvet by front embroidery; wear and fraying to lining and facing fabric; two shades of gold thread used for embroidery; recommended for display only
Measurements (with garments laying flat):
  Across shoulders” 16″
  Across front: 17″ between underarms
  Length: 33″
Additional Notes: Remarkable deep purple velvet jacket with extensive metallic couching embroidery along the edges. This type of garment was popular throughout the Ottoman Empire from northern Africa all the way up to Romania. They were especially popular in Turkey and Albania though examples can be found in distant corners of the Ottoman Empire. The jacket shows a strong European influence and was likely owned by a wealthy urban family. Possibly originally designed as a long coat for a young boy in the 19th century as there was a tradition of dressing up boys in clothing akin to sultans for their circumcision; however, the dimensions would also make it suitable as a short jacket for a smaller sized woman. The jacket is in stable condition and could be worn with care if desired, though it would look quite stunning professionally mounted behind glass or in a museum exhibition. The bright metallic embroidery against the rich purple velvet make this a difficult piece to photograph accurately and thus the images do not fully do it justice. Even nicer in person.