Armenian Marash Cotton Embroidered Panel, Eastern Turkey, Late 19th Century

A late 19th century embroidered panel from Marash in south-eastern Anatolia, worked entirely in cross stitch in madder-red, pink, pale blue, grey and ivory, with touches of saffron yellow, on a hand-woven indigo cotton ground. A large central medallion of concentric rings is surrounded by a diagonal lattice of rosettes, roundels and open ivory squares, with fine running stitches adding texture. The indigo has softened to a mottled blue with age, and the colours are beautifully mellow. Probably made as a bed or cushion cover, it would work well displayed on a wall or over a sofa.