Embroidered tray cover

Elaborately embellished round embroideries often covered the metal trays that accompanied traditionally gracious Turkish hospitality and cuisine. Here, exuberant floral displays and garlands bearing large blossoms with shaded petals enrich the circular designs that feature extravagant gilt-metal thread and many lush colors of silk thread. The embroidered stitches almost conceal the linen ground in a spectacular tour-de-force.