1317.
Silk Gauze; ground, light green; design, broad bands composed of white, black, and orange stripes. Egyptian, 10th century. 13 inches by 4 inches.
1318.
Taffeta, Silk and Cotton; ground and design, broad stripes of crimson, green, crimson and orange, separated by narrow lines of white; the warp is of brown fine cotton. Egyptian, 10th century. 12 inches by 2-1/2 inches.
Of such stuffs the Orientals make their girdles to this day; and for
such a purpose we presume this taffeta was woven at Cairo and for
Moslem use, as the green of the so-called prophet is one among its
colours.
1319.
Silk Gauze; ground, a light green. Egyptian, 10th century. 10 inches by 3-1/2 inches.
Though without any pattern, such a specimen is very valuable for
letting us see the delicate texture which the Saracens, like the ancient
Egyptians, knew how to give to the works of the loom. This, like
No. 1317, if ever used for church purposes, could only have been
employed for spreading over shrines, or the lining of vestments; specimens
like these are sometimes found between the leaves in illuminated
MSS, to protect the paintings.
1320.
Silk and Gold Damask; ground, crimson (now faded) silk; design, lions in pairs addorsed, regardant, each with a swan swung upon its back, and held by the neck in its mouth, bounding from out a small space surrounded
