The Missing Culture

Guest room, as opposed to living room, had an important place in Ottoman daily life. Special care was taken to decorate it, regardless of your financial status. Carpets, coffee cups, chairs, sofas were hand-picked. To your right are two hand-worked cushions of 19th century. They were probably made for export, though, as they are not typical cushions we used to see around here. Dimensions: 40.5x44.5 and 49x44 cm. Estimated value: $ 3,000

From the very first moment, this silk handkerchief has troubled me. It was customary to make handkerchiefs to commemorate special events or as a souvenir, but this one is a mystery to me. It looks Ottoman, fine. Yet, it is very odd in the sense that something is not right with it. Could be the skulls (or ghosts) on the left or the figures (I can not quite make out what) beneath the mosque. Estimated value: $ 500

Specially woven for Ottomans in Syria and Egypt, this door curtain of silk was embroidered with gold and silver. The writings belong to Sami Efendi (1838-1912), the renowned hattat (calligrapher) of the period. Dimensions: 250x168 cm. Tagged with a price of $ 90,000, the piece is still not sold.