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Embroidered textiles were an integral part of Ottoman daily life, used for home furnishings and clothing. Textiles played a role in daily activities and were used as gift wrappings, room decorations, daily linens, and clothing. Embroidered textiles also were used for more ceremonial purposes, such as weddings, births, and circumcisions. Handmade textiles were symbols of status and illustrated not only the wealth of a woman's family but also her skill as an embroiderer. Cover/hanging  In Ottoman homes the largest embroidered textiles were covers and hangings. After everyone woke up, the bedding was gathered, rolled and put away in storage spaces covered by embroidered hangings. The bedding consisted of mattresses, covers and pillows spread on the divans or put out on the carpeted floor of each room at night.
Take a closer look in the Textile Gallery... Bohça 
Bohça (wrapping cloth) is a square cloth that is used to wrap things to be carried or stored and was made in many sizes. The first bohças probably served as carrying cloths in a nomadic environment. Their use continued uninterrupted over many centuries and persists in Turkey today.
It was important to have beautifully made bohças since they were often used in public, either to carry towels to the hamam (bathhouse) or to protect the bride's trousseau during its transfer to her new house.  Take a closer look in the Textile Gallery...
Towel  Going to the hamam was a frequent outing for otherwise secluded Ottoman women. It was both a festive and a ceremonial occasion. Besides being a setting for the women's social gatherings, the hamam offered a place where women and young girls could show off their embroidered bohças, bath towels, dresses, as well as their bath nalins (raised wooden clogs) and jewelry.
The hamam provided an opportunity for girls to present their skill in embroidery and for mothers to pick future brides for their sons. Exquisitely embroidered textiles also might suggest a family's wealth and status to matchmakers. Take a closer look in the Textile Gallery...
Yaglik (napkin)  Visitors were always welcome in the Ottoman house. Not only did guests enliven the secluded lives of Ottoman women but it was also believed that a guest was a 'guest from God.' Visitors were shown into the best room of the haremlik (women's quarters). After several niceties were exchanged, sweets and coffee were brought in one after another on trays covered with embroidered textiles. Guests were presented with embroidered napkins (yagliks) or towels to wipe their hands before and after they tasted a variety of sweets.
Take a closer look in the Textile Gallery...
Floor spread  If the guests were invited to dine with the hostess, servants, slaves or young girls would set up the reception room for dining. First a round cover was spread on the floor. Sometimes this floor spread alone served as a table; at other times a cylindrical stand was put on top of it. The stand might be covered with a matching textile. A lavish food tray would be brought into the room and placed on top of the floor spread.
Take a closer look in the Textile Gallery...
Coffee service  A tradition that began during the Ottoman Empire and remains alive in Turkey today is the practice of serving coffee after dinner. The Ottomans believed that if you served guests a cup of coffee, they would remember and pray for their host for 40 years. The coffee service was very ceremonious and conducted by at least two or three young girls or boys. Depending upon the wealth of the host, the instruments, cups and embroidered cloths used for this occasion could be highly decorated.
Wedding In Ottoman society, the most important event for a woman was her wedding. Preparations for this event began early in a young girl's life. From the time a girl was born, the elder women of her family started working on her çeyiz (trousseau). When a girl became old enough to hold a needle she joined the effort. Much time would be spent making yagliks, bath towels, covers of different sizes and other articles for her home. Days before the wedding, relatives and friends would decorate her new home with items from her trousseau. Wrapped in finely embroidered wedding bohças some of the pieces from the trousseau were spread out around the room to view the artistic effect. Other items such as yagliks, towels, dresses and sashes were hung from the walls.  After the ceremony the bride would go to her new home dressed in a magnificent bindalli (dress), veil and slippers. Seated amid her trousseau, on which she had worked for so many years just for this occasion, the bride and her textiles were presented to the curious eyes of the guests who would inspect her handwork and judge her skills.
While eating, singing, dancing and merriment was going on in the haremliks (women's quarters) of both the bride's and groom's houses, the selamliks (men's quarters) would also witness similar festivities. One of these festivities was the ceremonial shaving of the beard and the cutting of the hair of the bridegroom. The bridegroom would be seated on a chair with a ceremonial apron and towel placed upon him. The barber would start his work under the watchful eyes of the bridegroom's relatives and friends. All the while the musicians would be playing and singing cheerfully.
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© 2001, The Textile Museum, 2320 S Street, NW; Washington, DC 20008 |
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