The Newberry Collection of Islamic Embroideries
An unpublished catalogue of the Ashmolean’s collection of Islamic embroideries from Egyptologist Percy Newberry, by Ruth Barnes and Marianne Ellis.
Publications online: 1018 objects
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Textile fragment with band of chevrons and trefoil finials
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Literature notes
A band with chevrons and trefoil finials. -
Details
- Associated place
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Near East (place of creation)
- Date
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14th century (1301 - 1400)
Mamluk Period (1250 - 1517)
- Material and technique
- linen, embroidered with silk
- Dimensions
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42.5 x 8 cm max. (length x width)
along length/width 19 / 19 threads/cm (thread count)
ground fabric 0.05 cm (thread diameter)
additional fibre, embroidery 0.07 cm (thread diameter)
- Material index
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organic › animal › animal product › silk
- Technique index
- Object type index
- No. of items
- 1
- Credit line
- Presented by Professor Percy Newberry, 1941.
- Accession no.
- EA1993.156
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Further reading
Ellis, Marianne, Embroideries and Samplers from Islamic Egypt (Oxford: Ashmolean Museum, in association with Greenville: Curious Works Press, 2001), no. 38 on p. 56, illus. p. 56
Barnes, Ruth and Marianne Ellis, ‘The Newberry Collection of Islamic Embroideries’, 4 vols, 2001, Oxford, Ashmolean Museum, cat. p. 117 (vol. iv), illus. vol. iv p. 117
Location
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- currently in research collection
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Galleries
Publications online
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Embroideries and Samplers from Islamic Egypt
This type of decoration of zigzag counterchange patterns can still be seen in 14th and 15th century Cairo architectural decoration. Evidently it appealed to textile designers, for elegant repeating zigzag bands decorated with fleurs-de-lys and naskhi script appear on a Mamluk woven silk, now divided among four museums in Europe and North America. Here the embroidery is far less grand, with no calligraphy, but is nevertheless impressive. By choosing to work it in close counted herringbone stitch, the embroiderer has produced a dense, slightly raised effect that adds a textural quality to the work and increases the contrast between the embroidered areas and those left in reserve. -
The Newberry Collection of Islamic Embroideries
A band with chevrons and trefoil finials.
Notice
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