Textile Fragment
1200-1500 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This fragment is part of a group of Chinese silks in the V&A collection , broadly dated between the late thirteenth century and the mid-fifteenth century. The weaving may have been carried out in China and the silks then exported westwards, or it could have been done outside China by Islamic craftsmen familiar with Chinese patterning.
The staining may be due to their having been buried, although no archeological report exist.
Similar textiles have not been found in China and it is possible that these silks were made specially for the Mamluk empire (1250-1517). From surviving Mamluk textiles, it seems that blue was a favoured colour. Mamluk and other textiles from the Islamic world are known to incorporate scripts into their designs.
The staining may be due to their having been buried, although no archeological report exist.
Similar textiles have not been found in China and it is possible that these silks were made specially for the Mamluk empire (1250-1517). From surviving Mamluk textiles, it seems that blue was a favoured colour. Mamluk and other textiles from the Islamic world are known to incorporate scripts into their designs.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Silk damask |
| Brief description | Blue and yellow silk damask, full width, foliage pattern and pseudo-Chinese characters, China or Egypt, 1200-1500 |
| Physical description | Length of full-width (selvedges intact on both sides) blue and yellow silk damask with large foliage pattern, conventional floral devices and pseudo-Chinese characters within ogee-shaped compartments outlined by leafe stems. Remains of stitch holes along top and bottom edge. Lots of discolouration all over the length, probably body fluids. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Object history | Purchased from Herr Paul Schulze (Cerfeld, Germany), accessioned in 1898. This acquisition information reflects that found in the Asia Department registers, as part of a 2022 provenance research project. This fragment, together with two pieces of North Italian brocade, was bought by the Museum from Herr Paul Schulze, Crefeld in Germany in 1898. |
| Production | Probably by non-Chinese (Islamic?) weavers |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This fragment is part of a group of Chinese silks in the V&A collection , broadly dated between the late thirteenth century and the mid-fifteenth century. The weaving may have been carried out in China and the silks then exported westwards, or it could have been done outside China by Islamic craftsmen familiar with Chinese patterning. The staining may be due to their having been buried, although no archeological report exist. Similar textiles have not been found in China and it is possible that these silks were made specially for the Mamluk empire (1250-1517). From surviving Mamluk textiles, it seems that blue was a favoured colour. Mamluk and other textiles from the Islamic world are known to incorporate scripts into their designs. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 314-1898 |
About this object record
Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
| Record created | December 15, 2008 |
| Record URL |
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest
