This is one among the known early productions of the loom, and therefore very valuable. The lion and man seem to be meant for Samson's victory over that animal, though, for the sake of a pattern, the same two figures are repeated in such a way that they are in pairs and confronted. Samson's dress is after the classic form, and he wears sandals, while a long narrow green scarf, fringed yellow, flutters from off his shoulder behind him; and the tawny lion's mane is shown to fall in white and black locks, but in such a way that, at first sight, the black shading might be mistaken for the letters of some word. This stuff is figured by Dr. Bock in his "Geschichte der Liturgischen Gewänder des Mittelalters," t. i. pl. ii.
7037.
Silk and Linen Damask; ground, pale dull yellow-coloured linen; pattern, circles enclosing tawny foliation, in the midst of which is a purple cinquefoil, and the spandrils outside filled in with other foliations in the same tawny tone. Byzantine, 14th century. 13-1/2 inches by 13 inches.
Of poor stuff, but of a rather pleasing design.
7038.
Silk Texture; ground, crimson; pattern, geometrical figures, mostly in bright yellow, filled in with smaller like figures in blue, green, and white. Moorish, 15th century. 1 foot 10-1/2 inches by 1 foot 2-1/4 inches.
Most likely this garish and rather staring silk was woven either at
Tangier or Tetuan, and found its way to Europe through some of the
ports on the southern coast of Spain.
7039.
Silk Damask; ground, purple; pattern, lozenges, with so-called loveknots, one on each side, enclosing a flower and a lozenge chequered with Greek crosses
