Turkish towels, also known by peshtemal, have a rich history and cultural significance that has stood the test of time. They were originally known as “Hammam Towels” as they were used in Turkish public baths known as hammam.
Title: "The Great Abu Sa'ud Teaching Law", Folio from a Divan of Mahmud `Abd-al Baqi. Poet: Mahmud 'Abd-al Baqi (1526–1600). The Met
Born During The Ottoman Era
From 1300 until 1922, the vast Ottoman Empire encircled the Mediterranean. Multiethnic life in the Ottoman Empire sprang naturally from the region’s diverse history, and Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Mongol, Persian, and Egyptian customs were prominently visible in society. Ottoman hammams were a place to meet friends, make deals, and debate policy, and they were an integral part of rituals surrounding marriage and birth.
Coming into use in the early 1600s and widely used in 1700s when hammams allowed women, peshtemals were flat-woven, hand-embroidered, long enough to completely envelop the body, and were originally intended to help bathers maintain privacy in public baths. Peshtemal were handwoven using premium cotton or linen fibers, making them incredibly absorbent and quick-drying qualities
Title: A Youth in a Hammam Smoking a Pipe. Date: first half of 18th century, Istanbul, Turkey. The Met
Identity and Status Symbol
Served as an essential role in Turkish culture for centuries, peshtemals were not only used in hammams, but also symbolic of status, with different colors and patterns signifying social standing or occasions, and served as an identification indicating which region people are from.
Over time, peshtemal became a symbol of wealth and status and were highly prized for their beauty and craftsmanship. With evolving designs and patterns, the craftsmanship of skilled artisans has made each towel a work of art. Peshtemals were considered a luxury until the industrialization in 1900s.