Middle East, Textile; woven silk, 1700s, PersianWoven silk and metal thread with an added metal thread fringe.
This cut-off sash is woven in red, white, green, pink and blue silk and metal thread [silver-gilt strip close S-wound on a pale yellow silk core]. In the main section is an offset repeating pattern of white lobed medallions with green outlines. Alternate rows are woven with a light and dark blue flower or faded mauve irises. The red ground is patterned with small tree-like motifs in metal thread. The side borders are woven with a metal strip used as a weft and with pink, white, green and blue silk with a tight pattern of scrolling, naturalistic flowers. The end border is divided into five rectangular sections, each containing an oval arrangement of floral motifs with a central medallion. Lines around these ovals form columns. The horizontal borders are finely woven with a similar floral pattern to that in the side border with 'gold' metal wire used as a weft in the ground.
The fringe is metal thread [silver strip open S-wound on a yellow silk core].