Ashmolean Eastern Art Online, Yousef Jameel Centre for Islamic and Asian Art

Because they are worked in different stitches and colours, the two embroideries illustrated (Nos. 33 [EA1984.463], 34 [EA1984.272]) look very different. However, they share the same geometric pattern, and only differ in the details within the diamond shapes. The basic unit is a Y-shape arranged in offset rows like the Y-fret patterns that decorate 14th century Mamluk Egyptian and Syrian metal basins and trays. The design appears on a tunic worn by a Mamluk courtier on the basin known as the Baptistère of St. Louis, now in the Louvre, Paris. To create the pattern on these embroidered fragments, every alternate row of the Y shapes has been omitted, resulting in the formation of diamond shapes within elongated hexagons. The pieces provide an interesting comparison between the effects produced by using different embroidery stitches. This one is worked in pattern darning in running stitch that is so similar in appearance to weaving with a supplementary weft. The result is pleasing but does not exploit fully the freedom offered by needle and thread. The stitch was much used on Islamic medieval textiles judging from the large proportion of the Newberry embroideries worked in it.

A band of linked and interlocking hexagons, each containing a diamond. The band also has a border with hook motifs.