8243.
Piece of Silk, dark Tyrian purple ground, with dark olive pattern of angular figures, and circles enclosing crosses, composed of four heart-shaped ornaments. Byzantine, beginning of the 12th century. 6 inches by 6 inches.
8243A.
Piece of Silk Border, ground alternately lilac, purple, and yellowish, with figures of animals within the spaces of the patterns; edging, green. Sicilian, 13th century. 3-1/4 inches by 1 inch.
Though small, this is a beautiful sample of textile excellence; on it
various animals are figured, of which one is the heraldic wyvern.
8244, 8244A.
Two Pieces of Crimson, embroidered, in gold, with a scroll-pattern. Sicilian, 13th century. 8244, 6-1/2 inches by 2-1/2 inches; 8244A, 6-1/4 inches by 2-1/2 inches.
8245.
Piece of Silk Tissue; the ground of pale purple, woven in a diaper with stripes of yellow and blue; the pattern formed of parrots perched in pairs. Sicilian, 12th century. 1 foot 6-1/2 inches by 10 inches.
It is said that St. Bernard, abbot of Clairvaux, when his grave was
opened, was found vested in a chasuble made of a stuff much like this.
8245A.
Piece of Tissue, like the foregoing (No. 8245), with a centre stripe woven with gold thread and dark blue, and two side-stripes with figures of parrots. Sicilian, early 13th century.
Though seemingly so slight and insignificant, these two pieces will
richly repay a close examination, exhibiting, as they do, great beauty of
design.
