Facing

[in progress]

Colors

Any contrasting color is acceptable. Here are some of the facing colors documented to 16th-century garments, courtesy of Silks for the Sultans:

  • Deep red (p. 73)
  • Yellow (p. 135)
  • Pistachio green (p. 102)
  • Olive green (p. 90)
  • Dark green (p. 107)
  • Light silvery blue (p. 69)

The page numbers are for one instance of each color, not for all instances.

Drawings also show facings in medium blue, a color that’s rare in the Topkapi Museum collection because of its cheapness.

Fabrics

Kaftans in the Topkapi Museum collection are often faced with taffeta (tafta), a light, plainweave silk, or satin (atlas), a more expensive and more substantial silk.

 

Where to Face

Decoration

  • Embossed lines
  • Patterns
  • Cord or embroidery along the edge
  • Embroidery and applique at the inside bottom corner

Comments are closed.