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This item has been added to the Database within the Explore Islamic Art Collections project. Information is available in: English, German, Arabic.

Name of Object:

Horsetail

Location:

Vienna, Austria

Holding Museum:

Kunsthistorisches Museum

About Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna

Date of Object:

Hegira 10th century / AD 16th century

Museum Inventory Number:

AM_PA_571

Material(s) / Technique(s):

Horse hair, wood

Dimensions:

Total length: 305cm, Length hair: 56/65cm

Period / Dynasty:

Ottoman

Provenance:

Turkey?

Description:

Tulgars with horse tails were ancient Ottoman symbols denoting social rank; the Turks had brought them with them when they emigrated from their Central-Asian homeland. Part of Archduke Ferdinand’s Turkish booty, this one may have been used during his “Hussars’ tournaments”. The shape and number of horse tails denoted the rank of an Ottoman dignitary. They were placed in front of his tent and accompanied him when the army was on the march. The Sultan was accorded seven or even nine horse tails as a symbol of his authority.

How date and origin were established:

Comparison with similar objects

How Object was obtained:

Collection of Ambras castle, documented since AD 1882

How provenance was established:

ILG / BOEHEIM, 1883
Inventory of Furniture and Small Artefacts held at Ambras Castle, page 6

Selected bibliography:

Haag, Sabine, Sandbichler, Veronika, Klarer, Mario, Piraten und Sklaven im Mittelmeer, exh. cat. Schloss Ambras, Innsbruck: Haymon, 2019.
Sandbichler, Veronika, Türkische Kostbarkeiten aus dem Kunsthistorischen Museum Wien, exh. cat., Wien: Kunsthistorisches Museum, 1997.

Citation of this web page:

Veronika Sandbichler, Thomas Kuster "Horsetail" in Explore Islamic Art Collections. Museum With No Frontiers, 2024. https://islamicart.museumwnf.org/database_item.php?id=object;EPM;at;Mus22;7;en

Prepared by: Veronika Sandbichler, Thomas Kuster
Copyedited by: Liz Cooper

MWNF Working Number: AT2 07

RELATED CONTENT

 Artistic Introduction

Islamic Dynasties / Period

Ottomans


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Clothing and Costume

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