Ornament from a Janissary's Cap

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Ornament from a Janissary's Cap

Turkey, 17th century
Metal
Silver, gilt, decorated with flattened wire and granulation
10 1/16 x 3 3/4 in. (25.55 x 9.52 cm)
The Madina Collection of Islamic Art, gift of Camilla Chandler Frost (M.2002.1.27)
Art of the Middle East: Islamic and Contemporary
Not currently on public view

Curator Notes

...
The highly disciplined Janissary corps formed the sultan’s crack infantry troops. As a part of their uniform, the Janissaries wore a distinctive felt hat somewhat like a stocking cap in appearance (see M.85.237.42), to which was affixed just above the forehead an ornament such as this rare silver gilt example, which was perhaps reserved for officers. Slightly concave and decorated with delicately worked geometric designs, it probably represents an abstract version of the wooden "spoon" worn by the ordinary Jannissary as an insignia demonstrating his loyalty to the sultan—signifying that it was the ruler who provided him with his daily soup.
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Bibliography

  • Lo Terrenal y lo Divino: Arte Islámico siglos VII al XIX Colección del Museo de Arte del Condado de Los Ángeles. Santiago: Centro Cultural La Moneda, 2015.

  • Komaroff, Linda. Beauty and Identity: Islamic Art from the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Los Angeles: Los Angeles County Museum of Art, 2016.

  • Lo Terrenal y lo Divino: Arte Islámico siglos VII al XIX Colección del Museo de Arte del Condado de Los Ángeles. Santiago: Centro Cultural La Moneda, 2015.

  • Komaroff, Linda. Beauty and Identity: Islamic Art from the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Los Angeles: Los Angeles County Museum of Art, 2016.
  • Jenkins, Marilyn, "Mamluk Jewelry: Influences and Echoes", Muqarnas, Vol.5, P.36 and fig.16a,b p.38.
  • Komaroff, Linda.  Islamic Art at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.  Los Angeles:  Museum Associates, 2005.
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