Aghabani antique Ottoman Levantine embroidery (105 x 95 cm)

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Aghabani  is the name given to Levantine / Syrian silk embroideries. The name purportedly from two Aleppo families said to have started this type of work  Al-Agha and Al-Bani. Confusingly works in yellow silk chain stitch on a fine lightweight cotton ground may be attributed to Bengal imported into the Ottoman empire. From another piece it was possible to read in badly written Arabic script the word ﺣَﻠَﺐ ' Haleb ' ( Aleppo ). Such silk embroideries in chain chain stitch seem to have been made in quantity for the Ottoman market and could conceivably have come a variety of siources.

 The piece here is lined with a cotton backing.

• Circa 1900