On display
Image of Gallery in South Kensington

Woven Silk

15th to 16th century (made)
Artist/Maker
Unknown
Place of origin
Spain (made)

Silk fabric. Geometric pattern of interlacing stars and roundels in red, blue, yellow and green.

Object details

Category
Textiles
Object type
Woven silk
Materials and techniques
woven silk Dye samples of this textile were analysed as part of the project “Caracterización de las producciones textiles de la Antigüedad Tardía y Edad Media temprana: tejidos coptos, sasánidas, bizantinos e hispanomusulmanes en las colecciones públicas españolas” (“Characterization of Late Antique and Early Medieval textile production: Coptic, Sasanian, Byzantine and Spanish Muslim textiles in Spanish national collections”) (HAR2008-04161) directed by Dr Laura Rodríguez Peinado, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Dpt. de Historia del Arte I (Medieval). Analysis was conducted by Enrique Parra at the Alfonso X El Sabio University, Madrid. The dyes were analysed through high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), extracting threads with a thickness varying between 5 and 1mm by means of 100 µL of methanol/hydrochloric acid/water 1:2:1. The results for this textile were as follows: Yellow - Persian berries Red - Madder Light blue - Indigo Dark blue - Indigo
Silk (Textile)
Woven
Brief description
1400s, Hispano-Moresque; Lampas, interlaced stars and circles
Physical description
Silk fabric. Geometric pattern of interlacing stars and roundels in red, blue, yellow and green.
Dimensions
  • Length: 22in
  • Width: 14.25in
Gallery label
(2012)
Jameel Gallery

Silk with Geometric Design
South-east Spain, possibly Granada
1300–1400

The pattern on this textile has been designed so that it repeats along the length of the loom. Each design unit contains an eight-pointed star, a quatrefoil and two roundels, filled with a variety of smaller motifs. The design evokes the architectural decoration of palaces like the Alhambra, where repeating patterns were created in plaster using moulds.

Silk thread in lampas weave
Museum no. 7038-1860
'SILK FABRIC. Geometrical pattern of brilliant colours. Moorish. 1ft. 10.5in. by 1ft. 2.25 in.' Original Label.
(1907)
'Spanish; 15th or 16th century'. Mr Kendrick's revise.
Historical context
Samples of coloured threads from this object have been taken and are being analysed as part of a collaboration between the V&A and the Spanish Research project "Caracterización de als producciones textiles de la Antigüedad Tardía y Edad Media temprana: tejidos coptos, sasánidas, bizantinos e hispanomusulmanes en las colecciones públicas españolas" ("Characterization of Late Antique and Early Medieval textile production: Coptic, Sasanian, Byzantine and Spanish Muslim textiles in Spanish national collections") (HAR2008-04161) directed by Dr Laura Rodríguez Peinado, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Dpt. de Historia del Arte I (Medieval).
Collection
Middle East Section
Accession number
7038-1860

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

Record createdJune 24, 2009
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O260612/woven-silk-unknown/
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest