5th-6th century
Within a medallion, a nereid holding a lyre rides a sea creature. Above her, a man wearing a riding coat stands in front of a horse or mythical animal. Beneath the nereid is a female dancer flanked by two male dancers. Under the dancers are two animals, a rabbit and either a hound or a lion. At the bottom are the remains of two charioteers. The border contains a row of human heads in addition to animals and plants in an architectural motif. Dark blue and undyed wool.
23.5 x 17.1 cm (9 1/4 x 6 3/4 in)
Silk, cut and uncut voided velvet on white satin ground
16th-17th centuryItalianVelvet
19th-20th centuryEuropean?Fiber
ItalianSilk, cut and voided velvet
16th-17th centuryItalianBook of swatches mounted on paper (56 sheets)
19th-20th centuryJapaneseDouble weave cotton and plastic textile samples
20th centuryCroatianHerringbone twill weave cotton textile samples
20th centuryCroatian