2-728-919 - Heritage Art/Heritage Images

Floral striped silk on a golden ground, 1600-1650. Twelve jewel-like colours of silk thread illustrate the vivacity of colours extolled in Iranian flowers on gilt- and silvermetal thread grounds. In a simplified semi-naturalistic style, swaying branches support an exuberant array of blossoms in the Safavid tradition while the botanical accuracy of European prints inspired flora in varied angles and stages of maturity. Although celebrated in Iranian poetry for centuries, flowers were not featured in paintings and textiles until the 1640s, inspired by European herbals. This sturdy silk retains its radiant colours in contrast with many silks that have faded from excessive light exposure, especially the reds and pinks which were dyed with lightsensitive safflower dyestuff.