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
Length: 81cm, Width: 53cm
Library
Victoria and Albert Museum
Library Asset ID
CIRC.767-1912
Record ID
CIRC.767-1912
Library Location
Middle East Section
Date
1800
Notes
A cotton and silk prayer mat. Iran, 19th century
Malzemeler ve teknikler
cotton yarn, silk thread, woollen yarn, weaving, embroidering, whitework, printing, sewing
Fiziksel açıklama
Plain weave cotton embroidered with silk in straight stitches and pulled thread work; whitework; backed with block printed plain weave cotton and faced with woollen twill. The outermost border has a 4-petalled flowerhead in profile. There is a composite border: reciprocal triangles, an embroidered border of V-shaped lines, some forming diamonds, a repeat of the reciprocal triangles [this combination = a]. The main border has embroidered stepped triangles forming star-like lozenges within a lattice. There is a square in each corner containing an outward pointing stylized floral sprig - each one is slightly different. Borders [a] are repeated. The central panel contains a pointed arch formed by a line of embroidered stepped triangles between lines of pulled thread work. The spandrels contain a square grid of stepped triangles. The inside edge of the arched panel is edged with reciprocal diamond -heads. There is a smaller arch within and the space between the two contains isolated rigid floral stems and stepped lozenges. The inner arch-shape is divided into two sections: the lower one contains a V-shaped embroidered band, a lozenge, 2 floral sprigs and an embroidered roundel in the lower right with an embroidered square in the lower left. The upper section contains floral stems and isolated motifs, a stylized comb and rosary and an embroidered roundel. Cotton thread: Z-spun Embroidery Thread: white silk; 2S Backing: white cotton ground with a printed pattern of small floral sprigs and undulating stems with tiny flowers which together create a lattice. The diamond shaped spaces contain six variations of a floral spray of three flowers. The colours are red, light blue, purple, green. The width of the printed fabric runs the length of the embroidered panel. Facing: bias cut; woven stripes in woollen twill: red stripe with a boteh or flower, white stripe with a meander, dark blue stripe with red flower, wider white stripe and wider yellow stripe both with a floral pattern.
