8255.
Piece of Silk, crimson ground, with pattern in violet and green, consisting partly of wyverns. Sicilian, end of 13th century. 10 inches by 5 inches.
Another good specimen of the Sicilian loom, and very likely one of
those "cendals" for which Palermo was once so famous.
8256.
Piece of Silk, pink-buff colour, with pattern, in green, of vine-leaves and grapes. South Italian, middle of 14th century. 8 inches by 5-1/2 inches.
The design of this silk is remarkably elegant, and exemplifies the
ability of the weaver-draughtsmen of those times.
8257.
Piece of Crimson Silk, damasked with a pattern in which occur leopards and eagles pouncing upon antelopes. Sicilian, end of 13th century.
The design of this piece of what must have been such a beautiful
stuff is very skilfully imagined, and the whole carried out in a spirited
manner. The leopards are collared, and from the presence of, as well
as mode of action in, the eagles stooping on their prey, a thought may
cross the mind that some political or partisan meaning is hidden under
these heraldic animals.
8258.
Piece of Silk; ground, lilac-purple; pattern, in bright yellow, composed of stags, parrots, and peacocks, amid foliage. Italian, 14th century. 10 inches by 4-1/2 inches.
A pretty design, in cheerful colours, and a pleasing example probably
of the Lucca loom towards the close of the 14th century.
