8227.
Piece of Crimson Silk, with pattern woven in gold thread. Sicilian, early 13th century. 10-1/2 inches by 7 inches.
This rich sample of the looms of Palermo betrays the architectural
influences, which acted upon the designers of such stuffs, by the introduction
of that ramified ornamentation with its graceful bendings, that
is so marked a character in the buildings of England and France at the
close of the 12th and opening of the 13th century. The fleur-de-lis
is rather an accidental than intentional adaptation, years before the
French occupation of Sicily.
8228.
Piece of Purple Silk Embroidery in gold and silver; pattern of interlaced dragons, human figures, and birds. North German, 12th century. 8-1/2 inches by 7-1/4 inches.
This small sample of needlework is as remarkable for the way in
which it is wrought, as for the wild Scandinavian mythology which is
figured on it.
The usual process for the application of gold and silver in textiles and embroidery is to twine the precious metal about cotton thread, and thus weave it in with the shuttle or stitch it on by the needle. Here, however, the silver, in part white in its original condition, in part gilt, is laid on in the form of a very thin but solid wire, unmixed with cotton, and the effect is very rich and brilliant.
In the middle of this piece are shown two monsters interlacing one another; within the upper coil which they make with their snake-like lengths, stands a human figure which, from its dress, looks that of a man who with each outstretched hand, seems fondling the serpent-heads of these two monsters; that at the other end terminates in the upper portion of an imaginary dragon with wings on its shoulders, its paws well armed with claws, and a wolfish head largely horned, and jaws widely yawning, as eager to swallow its prey. To our thinking, we have shown to us here the Scandinavian personification of evil in the human
