With Istanbul awash with contemporary artworks, it is a relief to have one seriously beautiful, scholarly exhibition focusing on the city’s Ottoman heritage. Beautifully crafted letter and document wallets were the essential accessory for Levant merchants and their wives, ambassadors extraordinary and French foreign ministers, notably the flamboyant comte de Vergennes, whose portrait hangs alongside that of his mistress and future wife in the Pera Museum. This marvellous collection of 91 embroidered wallets spans a century and a half, from 1669 to 835. It has also inspired the revival of the art, as you will discover when you visit the show.
Issue 66, December 2023
Turkey’s Centenary Issue
