Back to Search

Cuirass

Title	Cuirass
Author	Unknown Unknown (designed and made by)
Publication Date:	1800
Publication Place	Iran (made) -
Subject	Textiles
Type	Other
Language	Undetermined
Digital	Yes
Manuscript	No
Physical Dimensions	Maximum length: 50cm, Maximum when closed width: 39cm, Maximum when open width: 108cm
Library:	Victoria and Albert Museum
Library Asset ID	536-1888
Record ID	536-1888
Library Location	Middle East Section
Date	1800
Notes	embroidered leather, 1840-1869, Persian
Malzemeler ve teknikler	cotton yarn, silk thread, weaving, embroidering, sewing.
Fiziksel açıklama	Sleeveless jacket or protective vest of reinforced/padded black velvet embroidered with silk in running stitch and metal thread, edged with tablet woven silk, with a plain weave cotton backing and traces of a woven silk lining or facing, fastening with leather and metal loops, buckles and a silk cord. Although it is not possible to see, there is almost certainly a layer of leather. The cuirass is made of three pieces: a horizontal piece which goes across the back [just under the arm pit] and which folds across the front to overlap right over left. There are 6 leather loops, each with a metal ring, attached down the left hand side [as worn] and the same along the edge of the right hand side through which a red silk cord has been interlaced. The upper edge is curved to go below the arm and rises to a point in the centre back. Two separate panels have been added to run from the back over the shoulders to the front. The inner edge of each, by the neck, is straight and the outer is curved outwards. They are secured on the inside of the cuirass and fasten with a leather strap which corresponds to a buckle at the top of the front sections. The outer face is covered with black silk which is over a layer of white woollen fibre padding. The black silk is embroidered with dark red silk with a scale-like pattern, bands of chevrons and other bands embroidered with couched metal thread: [1] silver strip open Z-wound on yellow silk; [2] silver-gilt strip close Z-wound on yellow silk core worked over a padding of fibres. There is a floral motif at the top on the back. A similar floral motif appears on each shoulder piece. The backing is red cotton and there are traces of a woven silk lining or facing [it's not evident how extensively this silk was used] with a red ground and a floral motif in green and yellow. The edges were trimmed with narrow braids which have largely worn away. There is a tablet-woven braid along the straight lower edge of the piece.

View in source Victoria and Albert Museum Victoria and Albert Museum - Ottoman library catalog search

Victoria and Albert Museum

Cuirass

Author Unknown Unknown (designed and made by)

Publication Date 1800

Publication Place Iran (made) -

Subject Textiles

Type Other

Language Undetermined

Digital Yes

Manuscript No

Physical Dimensions Maximum length: 50cm, Maximum when closed width: 39cm, Maximum when open width: 108cm

Library Victoria and Albert Museum

Library Asset ID 536-1888

Record ID 536-1888

Library Location Middle East Section

Date 1800

Notes embroidered leather, 1840-1869, Persian

Malzemeler ve teknikler cotton yarn, silk thread, weaving, embroidering, sewing.

Fiziksel açıklama Sleeveless jacket or protective vest of reinforced/padded black velvet embroidered with silk in running stitch and metal thread, edged with tablet woven silk, with a plain weave cotton backing and traces of a woven silk lining or facing, fastening with leather and metal loops, buckles and a silk cord. Although it is not possible to see, there is almost certainly a layer of leather. The cuirass is made of three pieces: a horizontal piece which goes across the back [just under the arm pit] and which folds across the front to overlap right over left. There are 6 leather loops, each with a metal ring, attached down the left hand side [as worn] and the same along the edge of the right hand side through which a red silk cord has been interlaced. The upper edge is curved to go below the arm and rises to a point in the centre back. Two separate panels have been added to run from the back over the shoulders to the front. The inner edge of each, by the neck, is straight and the outer is curved outwards. They are secured on the inside of the cuirass and fasten with a leather strap which corresponds to a buckle at the top of the front sections. The outer face is covered with black silk which is over a layer of white woollen fibre padding. The black silk is embroidered with dark red silk with a scale-like pattern, bands of chevrons and other bands embroidered with couched metal thread: [1] silver strip open Z-wound on yellow silk; [2] silver-gilt strip close Z-wound on yellow silk core worked over a padding of fibres. There is a floral motif at the top on the back. A similar floral motif appears on each shoulder piece. The backing is red cotton and there are traces of a woven silk lining or facing [it's not evident how extensively this silk was used] with a red ground and a floral motif in green and yellow. The edges were trimmed with narrow braids which have largely worn away. There is a tablet-woven braid along the straight lower edge of the piece.