8596.
Piece of Silk Damask; ground, light crimson; pattern, in deep brown, vine-leaves within an ellipsis which has on the outer edge a crocket-like ornamentation, and on both sides a cluster as if of the letter U, arranged four in a row, one row above the other. Sicilian, 14th century. 8-1/2 inches by 6 inches.
As we saw in Nos. 8591, 8591A, so here we see that very curious
and not usual ornamentation, in the former instances like an O or zero,
in the present one like another letter, U. The same crispiness in the
foliage may be observed here as there; and in all likelihood both silks
issued from the same city, perhaps from the same loom, but at different
periods, as the one before us does not come up, by any means, in beauty
with those fragments at Nos. 8591, 8591A. In some instances the
feathers in a bird's tail are made in the shape of our capital letter U.
8597.
Piece of Silk Damask; ground, blackish purple; pattern, conventional foliage in greyish purple. Italian, 14th century. 1 foot 8 inches by 1 foot 6 inches.
The foliage, so free and bold, is quite of an architectural character,
and shows a leaning to that peculiar scroll-form so generally to be seen
on Greek fictile vases. Perhaps this stuff was wrought at Reggio in
South Italy; but evidently for secular, not ecclesiastical use.
8598.
Piece of Silk Damask; ground, purple; pattern, large monster birds, and, within ovals, smaller beasts, all in gold thread, relieved with green silk. Sicilian, 14th century. 2 feet 4 inches by 10 inches.
The design is bold and very effective, and consists of an oval bordered
very much in the Saracenic style, within which are two leopards
