Silk with Dogs and Arabic Script in Swaying Bands, 1370-1400. Creator: Unknown.

Silk with Dogs and Arabic Script in Swaying Bands, 1370-1400. Creator: Unknown.

2-740-821 - Heritage Art/Heritage Images

Silk with Dogs and Arabic Script in Swaying Bands, 1370-1400. Arabic script was included in many Italian silk patterns during the 1300s and early 1400s. Usually a few unintelligible but decorative Arabic letters were repeated in the design, but here, the pseudo-Arabic script is prominently displayed in the scalloped bands which support trefoil palmettes. Dogs and birds are incorporated into the pattern in an Italian fashion. During the 1300s and 1400s, Arabic script was featured in luxurious silks woven in Islamic territories, where it symbolized royal power. Spain, Egypt, and to a lesser extent the former Islamic territory of Sicily all produced examples which could have influenced the international silk style created by Italian silk designers. In addition, weavers may also have reinforced the fashion; they migrated from Sicily to the silk-weaving city of Lucca and subsequently to Venice. In Italian painting, pseudo-Arabic script not only decorated the border of the Virgin's mantle, but it was also repeated in silks displayed in the backgrounds.


Image Details


Medium
  1. A combination of two weaves, 2/1 twill and 1/5 twill (lampas)
  2. Silk and silver thread

Picture Type
  1. Textile

Digital Image Size

Pixel Dimensions (W x H) : 4706x4096
File Size : 56,472kb


Aliases

  1. 1919.17.a
  1. 99536
  1. 0940002694
  1. 1919.17.a
  1. 2-740-821
  1. 2740821


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