Not for a moment can we look upon this piece as a specimen of
real imperial purple wrought at Byzantium for royal use, and so highly
spoken of by Anastasius Bibliothecarius, and called by him "blatthin,"
with the distinguishing adjunct of "holosericus," or made entirely of
silk, and sometimes noticing it as "porphyreticum," while enumerating
the gifts of rich silks bestowed upon the churches at Rome by pontifical
and imperial benefactors.
8235.
Piece of Yellow Silk, with pattern of circles enclosing griffins, the interspaces filled in with hawks. Byzantine, 11th century. 12 inches by 10-1/2 inches.
This well woven and thickly bodied stuff shows its Byzantine origin
in that style of ornamentation seen in the circles so characteristic of a
Greek hand, as may be found in the Byzantine MSS. of the period.
What makes this specimen somewhat remarkable, is the rare occurrence
of finding the birds and animals figured in lines of silver thread. Dr.
Bock tells us that the chasuble of Bishop Bernward, who died in the
11th century, is decorated with a similar design.
8236.
Piece of Silk, Tyrian purple, diapered with palmette pattern. Oriental, 11th century. 1 foot 4 inches by 8-1/2 inches.
The hundreds of years that have passed over this remnant of the
Eastern looms have stolen from it that brightness of tone which once,
no doubt, shone about its surface.
8237.
Portion of Silk Border, crimson wrought in gold, with circles containing grotesque animals. Italian (?), middle of the 13th century. 1 foot 5-1/2 inches by 3-1/2 inches.
This well filled piece contains birds and beasts, among the latter
two dogs addorsed, embroidered with circles, upon plain red silk. By
