8624.
Piece of Silk Damask; ground, pale brown; pattern, in a lighter tone, stags and sunbeams, and below eagles within hexagonal compartments. Sicilian, late 14th century. 18 inches by 14 inches.
The stags, well attired, are in pairs, couchant, chained, with heads
upturned to sunbeams darting down on them, with spots like rain
coming amid these rays; beneath these stags are eagles. The material
is very thin and poor for such a pleasing design. In a much richer
material part of this same pattern is to be seen at No. 1310.
8625.
Piece of very fine Linen. Oriental. 2 feet 4 inches by 1 foot 5 inches.
This is another of those remarkably delicate textiles for which
Egypt of old was, and India for ages has been, so celebrated. A fine
specimen has been already noticed at No. 8230; but to indicate the
country or the period of either would be but hazarding a conjecture.
Surplices were often made of such fine transparent linen, as is shown by
illuminated MSS. See "Church of our Fathers," t. ii. p. 20.
8626.
Piece of Silk Damask; ground, fawn-colour; pattern, flowers and birds, both in green. Italian, end of 14th century. 11 inches by 8-1/2 inches.
The birds are in two pairs, one at rest, the other on the wing
darting down; between them is an ornament somewhat heart-shaped,
around which runs an inscription of imitated Arabic. Most likely this
silk is of Sicilian work.
