Pijprokende Turken. c. 1850 - 1899

This damask linen tablecloth, titled “Pijprokende Turken” or “Pipe Smoking Turks” was produced by the firm of the Rath Brothers sometime in the late 19th or early 20th century. The design gives us insight into the culture of that time. The exotic image of the pipe-smoking Turk, repeated across the cloth, reflects the Orientalist fascination of Western Europe, a cultural phenomenon deeply intertwined with the history of colonialism and trade. Orientalism was both a style and a mode of thought, in which European artists and designers represented people from the Middle East and Asia through the lens of stereotype and fantasy. The Rath Brothers, as successful manufacturers, operated within a commercial system that profited from these portrayals, shaping and perpetuating specific ideas about other cultures for a consumer market. It is the work of the historian to delve into archives of trade, design, and popular culture, and reflect on the politics of such imagery.