Author
Unknown
Publication Date
500
Publication Place
Egypt (made) Byzantine (made) -
Subject
Africa Archaeology Textiles Death
Type
Other
Language
Undetermined
Digital
Yes
Manuscript
No
Physical Dimensions
Height: 115mm, Width: 190mm
Library
Victoria and Albert Museum
Library Asset ID
2185A-1900
Record ID
2185A-1900
Library Location
Middle East Section
Date
500
Notes
A piece of samite medallion woven in blue and cream silk and glued to a linen backing. Egypt or Byzantine, ca. AD500-700. A floral border, with guilloche, encircles two mounted huntsmen with bows, who are attacking lions/tigers at the horses feet. The warriors wear cloaks and the horses have decorative harnesses. Battles between men and animals symbolised the struggle between good and evil in human nature. Similar to 2185-1900, 2185B-1900, 2186-1900, 817-1903 and 292-1889. Similar to a piece held by Abegg-Stiftung, Riggisberg. 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.
Malzemeler ve teknikler
Woven silk Silk (Textile) Weaving Dyeing
Fiziksel açıklama
A piece of samite medallion woven in blue and cream silk and glued to a linen backing. A floral border, with guilloche, encircles two mounted huntsmen with bows, who are attacking lions/tigers at the horses feet. The warriors wear cloaks and the horses have decorative harnesses. Battles between men and animals symbolised the struggle between good and evil in human nature. Similar to 2185-1900, 2185B-1900, 2186-1900, 817-1903 and 292-1889. Similar to a piece held by Abegg-Stiftung, Riggisberg.
Üslup
Coptic
