In conjunction with the 11th International Eastern Carpets Conference in Istanbul between 19 and 22 April 2007, Vehbi Koç Foundation’s Sadberk Hanım Museum has hosted an exhibition between 15 April – 10 June 2007 for visitors to see “Catma & Kemha / Ottoman Silk Textiles". The silk fabrics that were on display consisted of 70 fine examples of various silken fabrics that epitomised the commercial, cultural and social life of the Ottoman Empire belonged to Sadberk Hanım Museum’s own collection. Amongst the exhibited samples, alongside the caftan and furnishing fabrics, prayer rugs, wall panel decorations and cushion cases were also displayed.

Despite not being so large in numbers, the exhibited pieces, which stretched from the 15th till 20th centuries, were a group of significant and elegant examples of rich design and high quality. The exhibition’s numerous woven fabrics, and especially samples of silken fabrics belonging to the 16th and 17th centuries highlighted the fact that the empire’s artistic skills in technique and artistry in silken weaving also drew a parallel with the height of the political, economic successes that were enjoyed during the 16th and 17th centuries.