EMBROIDERED SILK TURBAN COVER (BOCHA) Ottoman Turkey, 18th century Yellow silk square embroidered with beige, light blue, green, black and rust polychrome silk and silver thread, decorated with carnations and floral scrolls, in a central square bordered by a floral border, wear and restorations, mounted on a frame. Size: 115 x 111 cm A Finely Embroidered Silk Turban Cover (Bocha), Ottoman Turkey, 18th century The Victoria and Albert Museum in London holds a number of Ottoman turban covers dating from the 17th and 18th centuries, characterised by their square format and embroidery technique (see CIRC.428-1930, CIRC.34-1936, T.33-1926 and 1016-1898). See also Sumru Belger Krody, Flowers of Silk & Gold, Four Centuries of Ottoman Embroidery, The Textile Museum, Washington, 2000, cat. 17, 18, 19. These light, highly decorated fabrics were intended to cover a dignitary's turban when it was not in use, protecting it from dust. Ottoman turbans were not unrolled, but rather removed in the same way as a hat, and were often placed on beautiful carved and painted wooden shelves called kavukluk.