Fragment of Akhmim Silk
7th-9th century
Description
Light colored plant motifs stand out against a purple background. The plants are symmetrical, 'candelabra' style motifs. This textile is a weft-faced compound weave (samite). Red main warps are visible in areas of damage. Trimmings from the fabric have been positioned along the upper and rightmost edges of this square fragment.
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View MoreWarps: undyed white cotton, 2 Z spun S plied. 34 warps per decimeter. Wefts: wool, Z spun; varied pairs and singles per shot. Extremely eccentric wefts, supplementary wefts for broceaded ornaments. Weft color: blue (heavily abrashed), red (heavily abrashed), green (probably indigo sulfonic, heavily abrashed), yellow, undyed white, light purply brown, corrosive brown, genuine purple/aubergine. Both selvedges: return wefting. Top and bottom: between 8 and 11 warps in a knotted fringe.
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