Cover

Physical description

Fringed and backed cover of loosely woven cotton embroidered with (faded) coral pink, white, yellow, mid-blue, light green, and black (later largely lost) silks (2-ply; S-twisted). There is a large star-shaped medallion with a cypres tree in the centre. To the left of the tree is the kneeling figure of a man wearing a Safavid taj, playing a lute-like instrument. To the right is the slighly smaller figure of a man holding a bowl. A long-tailed blue bird is perched on the tree. The field of the faded pink medallion is filled with floral stems which begin at the base of the tree.
The medallion is surrounded first by a narrow light blue border and then by a broader border of pale green containing animals and scattered leaves including a leopard.
Remains of inked sketch/drawing underneath embroidery.
Fringe added in crimson, yellow, white and green.
Backing: deep pink satin silk (warp) and beige weft.
[Cover] Cover of loosely woven cotton embroidered with coloured silks (2-ply; S-twisted). There is a large star-shaped medallion with a cypress tree in the centre. To the left of the tree is the kneeling figure of a man playing a lute-like instrument. To the right is the slightly smaller figure of a man holding a wine flask and a wine bowl. A long-tailed bird is perched on the tree. The field of the medallion is filled with floral stems which begin at the base of the tree.
The medallion is surrounded first by a narrow light blue border and then by a broader border containing animals.

Place of Origin

Azerbaijan (19th century?, made)

Date

1740-1779 (made)
1740-1779 (made)

Materials and Techniques

Plainweave cotton embroidered with floss silk in surface darning on the diagonal and runing stitch, to create a twill effect.

Dimensions

Length: 53 cm, Width: 57.5 cm
[Cover] Length: 21 in, Width: 23 in

Object history note

Purchased for "£2-10/ from Mrs Conyers Morrell, Field House, Summertown, Oxford on 25 August 1899.

Descriptive line

Silk embroidery, Iranian, 1500-1799

Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)

Brief Guide to Persian Embroideries; London,: Victoria and Albert Museum, 1950, plate 10.
Brief Guide to Persian Embroideries London: Victoria & Albert Museum, 1950, plate 10

Production Note

This embroidery belongs to Group 3 as defined by Jennifer Wearden in 'Azerbaijan Embroideries: A Synthesis of Contrasts' in Hali, issue 59, October 1991, pp. 102-111. Group 3 textiles are characterised by surface darning on the diagonal and date from the middle of the 18th century into the early part of the 19th centruy.

Materials

Cotton; Silk

Techniques

Embroidery

Collection code

T&F