Bidspirit auction | An Ottoman Cotton Talismanic Shirt

An Ottoman Cotton Talismanic Shirt (Jama). - An Ottoman talismanic shirt, known as a Jama.. Hand-painted on cream-coloured cotton, the garment served as a form of spiritual defence, intended to be worn for protection against physical and metaphysical harm. The entire surface is covered in a complex decorative programme of Arabic calligraphy and geometric symbols. The front is centred around a prominent Seal of Solomon (Khatam Sulayman), a hexagram that represents a shared tradition of mystical protection across the Near East. Surrounding this are magic squares (wafq) and panels containing key Quranic passages. These include the Shahada (There is no god but Allah, Muhammad is the messenger of Allah), the Ayat al-Kursi (The Throne Verse, Quran 2:255), and Surah al-Ikhlas (The Sincerity, Quran 112). The back features large calligraphic panels and circular compositions containing the names of holy figures, intended to invoke their intercession. The inscriptions are rendered in black, red, blue, and green pigments, with the side panels featuring delicate floral and geometric motifs.  H: Approximately 82 x 71cm