This significant brocade cotton panel, likely originating from Turkey during the 1870s, offers a rare narrative glimpse into late Ottoman courtly life. The textile depicts a formal diplomatic scene: the Grand Vizier—the Sultan’s supreme minister and holder of the imperial seal—greeting guests in a ceremonial reception. Such scenes were central to Ottoman political life, where the Grand Vizier (or Sadr-ı A’zam) convened affairs of state under the "dome" of the palace.
The panel is woven with a blend of cotton and interspersed metal threads, a combination that became more common in the late 19th century as a more accessible alternative to the pure silk and gold seraser fabrics of earlier centuries. Measuring 58 inches by 75 inches (147 cm x 190 cm), the piece is in fair condition with a distinct contrast in preservation: while one half remains in excellent state, the other displays a large 9-inch hole and two significant stains that appear to be historical acid damage.