Runner Throw with Tulip Motifs, Gold

The red tulip, the 'flower of blood' or the'flower of suffering', was a symbol of the soul in search of the Divine in the early Ottoman Empire. Originally growing wild in Central Asia, tulips were brought to Asia Minor by the Seljuks and adorned the palatial gardens of Ottoman Turkey. The interest in raising tulips was shared by many people, including the dignitaries, even the Sultan himself. The cult of tulip in Turkey reached a peak under Sultan Ahmet III (1673-1736); this period (1703-1730) was later named 'The Tulip Era'. From price registers it appears that extremely rare types of bulbs could be valued up to 500-1000 gold coins. They were one of the most popular subjects for decoration of textiles, pottery and other objects during the 15th -17th centuries and, along with carnations, are thought to symbolize fertility.