Woven Turban Cover

Prompted by the expansion of the Russian Empire into the Ukraine, thousands of Muslims, specifically the Crimean (“Krim”) Tatars and Circassians, migrated to Turkey from the late 18th to the mid-19th century. Because of this movement it can be difficult to pin down exactly who did what when it comes to textiles, but this turban resembles what the Krim Tatars are producing now in West Anatolia. Due to the past upheavals and persecution, the people of this culture are now trying to revive their traditions and one thing they’re known for is their stunning tapestry weaves.

This piece is made of cotton and is a tapestry weave containing geometric and abstracted floral designs at the ends. The ground is an off-white, and the designs are woven in blue, red, and brown.