5th-6th century
Two tapestry woven fragments originating from the same textile. Red and dark-dyed wool and undyed linen wefts are woven on undyed linen warps. Both fragments feature the same geometric designs: a red field containing red palmette-based designs outlined in black and a black rolling wave that borders this red field. The buff background behind the waves was likely the color of the fabric’s ground, as most fabrics of this period have an undyed linen ground decorated with colored bands, medallions, or other designs. A rounded edge appears at the top of one of the red sections, along which the black wave continues to scroll. The other fragment shows a 90-degree angle turn in the design. Supplementary weft wrapping in a red wool thread suggests long red lines parallel to the warp direction.
8.5 × 6 cm (3 3/8 × 2 3/8 in.) 5.1 × 9.8 cm (2 × 3 7/8 in.)
Fiber
ItalianBlue silk ground with brocaded decoration
19th centuryChineseTextile
19th centuryPersian
Felt and vinyl
20th centuryAmericanWarp: 2 S ply Z spun white and brown wool warps on one level. Wefts: 1 Z spun yarn, 2 shoots. Pile: 2 S ply Z spun wool. Pile colors: dark red, light red, aubergine, freckled orange (possibly aniline), dark indigo blue, light freckled indigo, yellow-green, green, yellow, aniline ornge, indigo sulfonic, brown and white. Knots: symmetrical. Knots in center area are off-set. 41 knots per vertical decimeter; 25 knots per horizontal centimeter. Both selvedges: bundles of 2 or 3 warps wrapped in red weft material. Top end (listed from edge of pile): band of single line red and blue soumak; band of white and brown 2 ply pile yarn over pairs of warps; 2.5 cm. cicim float brocading using pile yarn on top of a 2 ply red structural weft; single line of soumak; another cm. of same white and brown 2 ply pile yarn, which is then bound over; approximately 7 cm. red pile yarn over pairs of warps. Bottom end: 1 cm. white and brown 2 ply pile yarn; 2 lines of red and blue soumak; 3 cm. slit tapestry weave for ties (to close bag), brown and white soumak; 1/2 cm. tapestry weave; right to left transverse warp braids. Pile is of somewhat remarkably long wool. Ties (to close the bag) are extant: braids in blue, red and brown.
19th-20th centuryKurdishSilk lampas
16th-17th centurySpanishcompound silk weave
18th-19th centuryOttoman
Handwoven maguey fiber
20th centuryAmerican