Garter
1700s (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
A tablet-woven garter with silk warp and red cotton weft; the end braids and tassels are missing. It is decorated in red and white with green and black edgings. The main patterns, separated by a pattern of blocks, they are:
an arabic inscription within a panel (Jerusalem); a peakock standing on a cypress tree; a two-headed bird below a sprig of tulips and pomegranates and a pair of birds below a large tulip; a pair of birds between sprigs of flowers and a large carnation; a similar motif including a round vase; a meander of carnation heads; a meander with birds and carnations; three adjoining panels with inscriptions in arabic script (not yet translated); a repeat of the meander with birds and carnations; a repeat of the pair of birds with a large carnation; a repeat of the peacock on the cypress tree.
an arabic inscription within a panel (Jerusalem); a peakock standing on a cypress tree; a two-headed bird below a sprig of tulips and pomegranates and a pair of birds below a large tulip; a pair of birds between sprigs of flowers and a large carnation; a similar motif including a round vase; a meander of carnation heads; a meander with birds and carnations; three adjoining panels with inscriptions in arabic script (not yet translated); a repeat of the meander with birds and carnations; a repeat of the pair of birds with a large carnation; a repeat of the peacock on the cypress tree.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Tablet woven silk and cotton |
| Brief description | Middle East, Textile; |
| Physical description | A tablet-woven garter with silk warp and red cotton weft; the end braids and tassels are missing. It is decorated in red and white with green and black edgings. The main patterns, separated by a pattern of blocks, they are: an arabic inscription within a panel (Jerusalem); a peakock standing on a cypress tree; a two-headed bird below a sprig of tulips and pomegranates and a pair of birds below a large tulip; a pair of birds between sprigs of flowers and a large carnation; a similar motif including a round vase; a meander of carnation heads; a meander with birds and carnations; three adjoining panels with inscriptions in arabic script (not yet translated); a repeat of the meander with birds and carnations; a repeat of the pair of birds with a large carnation; a repeat of the peacock on the cypress tree. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions |
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| Credit line | Given in memory of Florence Akst |
| Production | Jerusalem garters are mementoes of 17th century journeys to the Holy Land. The earliest extant pair is in the collection at Colonial Williamsburg, USA and are dated 1649. One of the few known written references is in the diary of Judge Samuel Sewell of Boston, USA (1652-1730): in 1688 he refers to a pair of Jerusalem garters given to him as thanks for money sent to aid colonial American prisoners held by pirates in Algerian jails. He writes 'Gee presents me with a pair of Jerusalem Garters which cost above 2 pieces 8 (Spanish mille dollars) in Algier; were made by a Jew'. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | T.60-2000 |
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| Record created | March 16, 2000 |
| Record URL |
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