Textile Panel
1840-1870 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Woollen twill embroidered with woollen thread in small straight stitches.
Green ground with a central panel containing a lobed lozenge outlined with a band of [1] blue trefoils alternating with an orange circular outline. There is an oval in the middle surrounded by 4 cypress trees and four small botehs and band [1] and a zigzagged line enclosing stylised carnations. The outer part of the lobed lozenge is filled with cypresses and botehs with detailed infillings. Band [1] forms a second lobed lozenge around the first. That space has red and blue carnation-like flowers on the green ground. The remainder of the ground is filled with interlaced stems and band [1] which also outlines some of the motifs; elongated botehs, blue fan-like blossoms, red roundels with a blue star.
Inner and outer borders: forming a square in each corner: black meander with red carnations and blue flower heads. Edged with bands of orange circular motifs.
Main border: cypress trees and 2 types of boteh.
Colours: Z2S; dark red, red, orange, blue, light blue, white, black.
For a similar piece see 874&A-1877
Green ground with a central panel containing a lobed lozenge outlined with a band of [1] blue trefoils alternating with an orange circular outline. There is an oval in the middle surrounded by 4 cypress trees and four small botehs and band [1] and a zigzagged line enclosing stylised carnations. The outer part of the lobed lozenge is filled with cypresses and botehs with detailed infillings. Band [1] forms a second lobed lozenge around the first. That space has red and blue carnation-like flowers on the green ground. The remainder of the ground is filled with interlaced stems and band [1] which also outlines some of the motifs; elongated botehs, blue fan-like blossoms, red roundels with a blue star.
Inner and outer borders: forming a square in each corner: black meander with red carnations and blue flower heads. Edged with bands of orange circular motifs.
Main border: cypress trees and 2 types of boteh.
Colours: Z2S; dark red, red, orange, blue, light blue, white, black.
For a similar piece see 874&A-1877
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Woollen yarn, weaving, embroidering |
| Brief description | Middle East, Textile. Textile panel, wool twill with wool-embroidered design on green ground, Kerman, Iran, 1840-1870 |
| Physical description | Woollen twill embroidered with woollen thread in small straight stitches. Green ground with a central panel containing a lobed lozenge outlined with a band of [1] blue trefoils alternating with an orange circular outline. There is an oval in the middle surrounded by 4 cypress trees and four small botehs and band [1] and a zigzagged line enclosing stylised carnations. The outer part of the lobed lozenge is filled with cypresses and botehs with detailed infillings. Band [1] forms a second lobed lozenge around the first. That space has red and blue carnation-like flowers on the green ground. The remainder of the ground is filled with interlaced stems and band [1] which also outlines some of the motifs; elongated botehs, blue fan-like blossoms, red roundels with a blue star. Inner and outer borders: forming a square in each corner: black meander with red carnations and blue flower heads. Edged with bands of orange circular motifs. Main border: cypress trees and 2 types of boteh. Colours: Z2S; dark red, red, orange, blue, light blue, white, black. For a similar piece see 874&A-1877 |
| Dimensions |
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| Style | |
| Gallery label | The word 'sal' in Persian is often translated as 'shawl' but it really means any patterned woollen textile woven in twill; the fabric could be cut and made into garments and was not solely used as a wrap.
Fine tapestry-weaving is a slow process and its products are always costly, so less expensive, embroiderede versions of 'sal' designs were always in demand.
Murdoch Smith noted that the twill fabric used for these covers was called 'silsileh' and that it was often richly embroidered to imitate woven pieces. |
| Object history | This object was purchased in Iran by Robert Murdoch Smith on behalf of the Museum, from an un-named Persian source in Tehran. It was part of a batch of fifteen objects, including woven and embroidered textiles, metalwork, carved stone and painted pasteboard. Murdoch Smith wrote: "I have purchased [these] objects which I think would be very suitable for the Museum. I will retain them at your disposal should you decide on acquiring them, and if not, I do not object to keeping them myself. It is almost impossible to get Persians to keep such articles pending a reference from London, especially as there are several people now in Teheran ready to buy, notably Baron Reuter's Agent, and one of the members of the Austrian Legation" (V&A Archive). |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 1062-1875 |
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| Record created | January 7, 2004 |
| Record URL |
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