original design to let us know what it was; but, to judge by the ends of some wings, we have before us sufficient to see that, when entire, it must have consisted of large birds, and have been bold and telling.
8285.
Piece of Light Crimson Silk and Gold Tissue; the pattern is a diapering, all in gold, formed of a tree with a lioness sejant regardant beneath it, and a bird alighting on a flower, the centre of which is spotted with stamens of blue silk. North Italian, beginning of the 15th century.
This specimen is valuable both for its rich materials and the effective
way in which the design is brought out.
8286.
Piece of Dark Purple Silk and Silver Tissue, relieved with crimson thrown up in very small portions. The pattern is a bold diapering of grotesque animals and birds, together with inscriptions affecting to be in Arabic. Very likely from the South of Spain, at the beginning of the 15th century. 24 inches by 19 inches.
Alike conspicuous for the richness of materials, as for the exuberance
in its design, this specimen deserves particular attention. Spotted
leopards and shaggy-haired dogs, all collared, and separated by bundles
of wheat ears; birds of prey looking from out the foliage, hoopoes
pecking at a human face, dragon-like snakes gracefully convoluted amid
a Moorish kind of ornamentation, and imitated Arabic letters strung together
without a meaning, show that the hand of the Christian workman
was guided somewhat by Saracenic teachings, or wrought under
the set purpose of passing off his work as of Oriental produce. But in
this, as in so many other examples, a strong liking for heraldry is displayed
by those pairs of wings conjoined and elevated, in the one instance
eagle's, in the other wyvern's.
