Historical information

Purchased in Athens from antiques dealer (Pandrossou St, Monastirki) by donors sister in the 1970's.
Guests in Turkey would be offered water to wash their hands and yagliks to wipe them. When everyone sat crossed legged at low tables, yagliks were also used to cover their laps from spills. They were also used to wrap items such as an important letter, sum of money, present, jewellery, gift of fruits or sweets, an article of clothing - all wrapped in an embroidered yaglik or bocha (square cloth). The richer the wrapping the greater the compliment. In wealthy households, as soon as a girl was old enough she would learn embroidery and start preparing for her trousseau and her home furnishings.

Significance

Example of Ottoman Embroidery

Physical description

Yaglik (Turkish towel), embroidered both ends with geometric motifs in grey, blue, red and metallic thread