blue shaded white, and cockatoos in gold. Syrian, 14th century. 19 inches by 13-1/2 inches.
So strong is the likeness between this and the stuff at No. 8359,
both in the texture of the silk and the treatment of the beasts and birds,
that we are led to suppose them to have come from the same identical
workshop. That tree-like ornament, under which the shaggy long-tailed
lion with down-bent head is creeping, seems the traditionary form
of the Persians' "hom." The gold is, in most parts, very brilliant,
owing to the broadness of the metal wrapped round the linen thread that
holds it; and, altogether, this is a rich specimen of the Syrian loom.
8621.
Piece of Silk Damask; ground, fawn-colour; pattern, foliage in green, flowers, some white, some in gold, and lions in gold. Sicilian, late 14th century. 22-1/2 inches by 10 inches.
The warp is of linen, and the silken woof is thin; so sparingly was
the gold bestowed, that it has almost entirely faded; altogether, this
specimen shows a good design wasted upon very poor materials. In the
expanding part of the foliage there seems to be a slight remembrance
of the fleur-de-lis pattern, and the lions are sejant addorsed regardant.
8622, 8623.
Two Portions of Silk Damask; in both, the ground, fawn-colour; the pattern, in the one, ramified foliage, amid which two lions sejant regardant, in gold; in the other, two eagles at rest regardant, in green, divided by a large green conventional flower, including another such flower in gold. Sicilian, 14th century. 11 inches by 5-1/4 inches; 9-1/2 inches by 4-3/4 inches.
Very likely from the same loom as No. 8621, and every way corresponding
to it.
