head and waist joined on to the body of a lioness passant cowed, that is, with its tail hanging down between its legs. In this specimen may be detected an early form of the artichoke pattern, which afterwards became such a favourite.
8296.
Piece of Silk; ground, dark red; pattern, a yellow diapering of somewhat four-sided figures enclosing an ornament of a double ellipsis. South Spanish, 15th century. 10-3/4 inches by 7 inches.
8297.
Piece of Crimson Silk; pattern, in green, of open arabesque spread in wide divisions. Southern Spain, late 14th century. 18 inches by 7 inches.
The design of this valuable piece is very good, and must have had a
pleasing effect. From the way in which the cross is introduced by
combinations of the ornamentation and slight attempts at showing the
letter M for Maria—the Blessed Virgin Mary, it would seem that it was
the work of a Christian hand well practised in the Saracenic style of
pattern-drawing.
8298.
Piece of Silk; ground, crimson; pattern, a yellow diapering of a rather peculiar form. Spanish, late 14th century. 18 inches by 12 inches.
Rich in its tones, this specimen may have been designed under the
influence of Moorish teachings; it is, however, very agreeable.
8299.
Piece of Silk Tissue; the pattern, a large raised diaper, which consists of a centre, in red silk, representing the web of the geometric spider, with the insect resting in the middle, enclosed within the branches of a conventional tree,
