A Rare Pair of 18th Century Hand Embroidered Ottoman Slippers, Turkey Circa 1790

 

Both profusely embroidered by hand with gold & silver threads, the toes featuring seed pearls arranged in anthemia motifs, the beds showing hand stitched ‘Tree of Life’ motifs in silver & gold threads against an abraded foundation of purple, indigo & vermillion stitched fabric. Their undersides showing hourglass shaped, spatulate leather soles. Given the abundant use of precious metal threads and pearls, this strongly suggests that these were quite obviously made for a woman of high standing, quite possibly a member of the Royal family.

Their abraded condition is consistent with the combined nature of the materials, intended use, and their significant amount of age.

(A relatively similar pair of Ottoman slippers, albeit in a better state of preservation, were recently offered in an ‘Arts of the Islamic World & India’ at Sotheby’s in London on October 25th, 2025, Lot #152 with an estimate of £6000-£8000 (making £10,795 British Pounds)

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