Two Ottoman tents (Turkish: čadır, Persian: khema) exhibited in this collection impressively illustrate Ottoman craftsmanship and traditional tent art.
Tents have always been a consistent part of Ottoman culture. The roots date back to the time when the Ottomans were nomads. This type of tent survives in the form of the yurt used until today by nomadic people in middle and central Asia. A yurt consists of criss-crossed wooden lattices arranged in a circle. Rafters connect the lattices to the roof ring for overall stabilisation. Bands wrapped around the outside prevent the rafters from pressing the lattices to opening further. This basic trellis construction is subsequently covered with materials like canvas, felt, animals’ skins or furs. Over the years the Ottomans developed a variety of forms, adapted in size, decoration and preciousness to the status of the owner of the tent and to its intended use: courtly, socio cultural or for military purposes).
The fragment of a twin-support tent (approx. 2x5m) exhibited in the museum consists of red cotton and shows a simple popular application technique. The individual forms of its decoration were cut out of textiles piece by piece and stitched onto the support.
The round tent (approx. 7x12,6m) shows a more elaborate decoration. From this one can deduct that it must have been used by a high-ranking person. The inner walls are covered with red cloth and show an overall decoration effectuated by means of silk threats: a surrounding decorative arcade contains vases with various flowers which are placed between the columns; similar motifs appear are above the tent walls. Remarkable characteristics of this tent are not only the use of silk and in some areas also gold-plated leather but also the special border seam covered in turn with silk threats. Due to its size and ingenious execution this state tent is unique and without a match in European collections.

 

Based on German text by Anna Szöke

Bibliography:

Katalog der historischen Ausstellung der Stadt Wien, Wien 1883.
Erben,Wilhelm;  Wilhelm,John, Katalog des K. und K. Heeresmuseums, Wien 1903.
Allmayer, Christoph – Beck, Das Heeresgeschichtliche Museum Wien, Wien 1983.
Popelka, Liselotte , Heeresgeschichtliches Museum Wien, Graz, Köln, Florenz 1988.
Atasoy, Nurhan:The Ottoman Imperial Tent Complex, Istanbul 2000.