composed of two joined vertical panels, the voided dark ivory silk ground with delicate red velvet design comprising rosettes and tulips filled with silver-thread highlights, framed by geometric stellar design with carnations, mounted onto a stretcher, set in a wooden frame without glazing

Colours in reality are pink/cerise and not as dark as in the image in the printed catalogue. It does differ in colour in different light. The gold and silver threads add a subtle sparkle and lightness to the design as areas within the centres of flowerheads. Mounted onto a stretcher, set in a wooden frame without glazing. The panel is composed of two joined vertical panels with the join visible through the centre. The design is slightly misaligned, visible within the main medallion, but this does not detract from the overall appearance. Evidence of outer edging of cerise velvet vertical line visible, far-left and right sides (indication edge of design). The panels have an alternating orientation of weave (left-hand panel: top is actually bottom with regard to orientation of weave). The cerise velvet pile is in very good condition generally overall with minor areas of lower pile in corners and along vertical join of central panel as well as along lower edge. There are some areas of weakness to the foundation of textile with some small splits and areas for example top-left and right corners and lower left-hand side of the border. There is a horizontal split in far lower-right corner which is approx. 7cm. long (visible in the photograph). and the joining of the vertical panels is opening up with the small stitches having become loose, in sections toward the top and bottom, as visible in the photograph. There is some loss and oxidisation to the silver-threads used to highlight flower motifs within the design. This is a particularly beautiful and delicate design, with unusual combination of motifs, including well known and evocative motifs.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

A brocaded voided cut crimson velvet panel with an identical design, comprised of two vertically pieced loom width sections, with a horizontal border of eight-pointed medallion, only along the lower edge (with five medallions) and a vertical right hand side border (with four medallions), seventeenth or eighteenth century (overall measurement 123cm by 105cm; each panel 123 by 43cm and 123 by 62cm. respectively), is in the Musées Royaux d’Art et d’Histoire, Brussels, (Inv. no. IS.Tx.215. Acquisition: Bought by I. Errera in Istanbul in 1900 and donated to the museum).

This comparable panel of a voided foundation with pattern rendered in deep crimson velvet pile, with details to the centres of the flowers and the pointed medallions, is also slightly misaligned at the join of the two panels. It has the same double line as a demarcation between the borders and panel design. It is a very unusual design incorporating some highly stylised flower heads in the main design. In addition the design of the delicate trails of tulips and carnations, are not dissimilar to those found in other textiles of the period, but are more unusual when combined with medallions in velvet panels. They are found on a surviving length of crimson and yellow solid pile velvet, with lobed medallions as the main repeat field design, surrounded by the similar delicate trails, Ottoman Turkey, second half seventeenth century, 152 by loom width 67cm, in the Victoria & Albert Museum, London (Inv. no. 355-1897); (Atasoy 2001, pp.313 & 335, fig.333, pl.77).

There are a number of existing panels which vary in size from two loom width panels, to much larger examples, used as coverings and floor carpets; and are predominantly designs of staggered medallions.