addorsed rampant regardant. Above this oval stand two wyverns with heads averted and langued green or vert. This alternates with another oval enclosing two dog-like creatures rampant addorsed regardant; above this two imaginary birds, well crested, langued vert, with heads averted, and seem to be of the cockatoo family. From the shape of this piece, as we now have it, no doubt its last use was for a chasuble, but of a very recent make and period; and sadly cut away at its sides.
8599.
Piece of Silk Damask; ground, green; pattern, in light purple or violet, an ellipsis filled in with Saracenic ornamentation, having below two split pomegranates in gold, and above, two giraffes, which alternate with a pair of long-necked gold-headed birds that are flanked by an ornament made up of letters like U. Sicilian, 14th century. 1 foot 10-1/2 inches by 2 feet 2 inches.
Though this specimen has been sadly ill-used by time, and made out
of several shreds, it evidently came from the hands that designed and
wrought other pieces (Nos. 8591, 8591A, 8596) in this collection.
Upon this, as upon them, we have the same elements in the pattern—the
ellipsis, the giraffes, and that singular kind of ornamentation, a sort
of letter U or flattened O, not put in for any imaginary beauty of form,
but to indicate either place or manufacturer, being a symbol which we
have yet to learn how to read and understand. That in time we shall
be able to find out its meanings there can be little or no doubt.
Though of so pleasing and elaborate a design, the stuff, in its materials, is none of the richest.
8600.
Piece of Silk Damask; ground, yellow; the pattern, in violet, an ellipsis filled in with Saracenic ornamentation. Sicilian, 14th century. 10 inches by 2-1/4 inches.
There can be little doubt that this inferior textile, showing, as it
does, the same feelings in its pattern, came from Palermo.
