A good design bestowed upon somewhat poor materials. At first the yellow parts of the pattern had their cotton thread covered with gold, but of such a debased quality and so sparingly, too, that it has almost all disappeared, and, where seen, has tarnished to a dusky black.
1294.
Silk Damask; ground, purple; design, large fan-like leaves, between small fruits of the pomegranate, in dead purple. Spanish, late 15th century.
Upon this specimen there was sewed an inscription, now so broken
as not to make sense, and from the style of letter, of the floriated form,
done in red and gold thread upon purple canvas, as is all the scroll-work
about it, some German hand must have wrought it.
1295.
Tissue of Cotton Warp and Silk and Gold Woof; ground, now yellow; design, eagles in pairs, divided by rayed orbs, amid foliage all in gold. Sicilian, middle 14th century. 6-1/2 inches by 5-1/2 inches.
The eagles are about to take wing, and are pecking at the rays of,
seemingly, the sun which separates them. The foliage is much like, in
form, that which so often occurs on works from the looms of Palermo;
and, in all likelihood, the ground, now yellow, was once of a fawn-colour.
Though good in design, this stuff is made of poor materials, the silk
in it is small, and the gold of such a base quality that it has become a
dusky brown.
1296.
Tissue of Flaxen Thread Warp and Silk and Gold Woof; ground, fawn-coloured; design, eagles in pairs affronted, with a pencil of sun-rays darting down upon their heads, and resting amid flowers all in gold. Sicilian, middle 14th century. 8 inches by 4-1/4 inches.
