Author
Unknown
Publication Date
1250
Publication Place
Edfu (made) -
Subject
Archaeology Textiles Africa Death
Type
Other
Language
Undetermined
Digital
Yes
Manuscript
No
Physical Dimensions
Height: 385mm, Width: 270mm
Library
Victoria and Albert Museum
Library Asset ID
615-1892
Record ID
615-1892
Library Location
Middle East Section
Date
1250
Notes
A fragmented length of samite in dark blue, light blue and yellow/buff. Egyptian, Mamluk, ca. AD1250-1500. Two opposite sides are hemmed with a think linen thread in whip stitch. A blue silk thread is also used in running stitch. The design is a criss-cross of lines making diamond shapes. The sides of the diamonds are created from one square, lozenge shape with an 's' inside each. Where these meet is an eight pointed star. In the middle of the diamond is an oval lozenge (with a floral knop at each end) with either a floral shape or an inscription inside. Two small dots are on either side of the oval lozenge. The piece is brittle with holes and is stained in places. Samite (twill woven silk) was thought to originate from Persia under Sassanian rule (AD224-651). It was commonly decorated with pairs of animals and birds and set in pearled lotus roundels. It is often found in Western burials, within church possessions and along the Silk Road. Byzantine weaving workshops took on the samite technique to make it an essential weave of the period. It was a luxury textile of the Middle Ages brought to Europe when the Crusades opened up direct contact with the East. It was forbidden to the middle classes of France under the sumptuary rules c. 1470.
İlişki
Chester
Malzemeler ve teknikler
Woven silk Silk (Textile) Weaving
Fiziksel açıklama
A fragmented length of samite in dark blue, light blue and yellow/buff. Two opposite sides are hemmed with a think linen thread in whip stitch. A blue silk thread is also used in running stitch. The design is a criss-cross of lines making diamond shapes. The sides of the diamonds are created from one square, lozenge shape with an 's' inside each. Where these meet is an eight pointed star. In the middle of the diamond is an oval lozenge (with a floral knop at each end) with either a floral shape or an inscription inside. Two small dots are on either side of the oval lozenge. The piece is brittle with holes and is stained in places.
