TWO RARE NASRID SILK FRAGMENTS DEPICTING PEACOCKS, SPAIN, 14TH/15TH CENTURY |

each silk fragment of rectangular form featuring a peacock woven in dark and light blue, and dark and light beige, with a large stylised tail rising above its head and feet in movement

Matossian, Cairo/Paris, 1960.
Heidi Vollmoeller, Zurich, 1960-2003.

Setz-Frey, A. 'Zu Gast in der Galerie Heidi Vollmoeller', in 57 Jahrgang, vol.1, November 1969-70, pp.204-5, (monochrome illustration).
Monochrome postcard, New Year, 1968 (of one textile only).
Seltene Antike Koptische, Islamische und Präkolumbianische Stoffe sowie Teik ainor Vorderasiatischer Teppiche, Galerie Heidi Vollmoeller, exhibition catalogue, Zurich, 2001, p.54, no.340.

Both fragments are silk. Technique (tabby weave). The blue ground has flecks of the white ivory coloured warp threads showing through, in some areas more than others, as visible in the photographs. There is some colour difference in narrow strips to the ground, visible as a royal rather than navy blue, for example lower section of ground in panel of peacock. There is some surface staining to one of fragments, visible in the area of the blue ground as different colour, between the edge of the tail and the neck of the peacock. There is evidence of the cut silk ivory coloured warp threads along the sides and tops, as visible in the photographs. There are some areas of minor loss to both panels: One panel has losses for example to the top left edge of the tail, visible as the white area, and further areas within the outer blue feathers, in the top section to curve (with some additional horizontal consolidation stitches), small area of loss further down where the almond colour crescent meets the feathers on the right, and within the centre of the top section of crescent flanked centre of the exotic tail. Small area of loss at the base of the exotic feathered tail on the far left side. There are other areas where minor splits are visible, which are commensurate with technique and colour change, for example along the join line of colour change of almond feathers and pale ivory coloured feathers of the head. Other panel, similar losses and colour change opening splits to this panel. For example small losses in areas such as the far right blue centred feathers of the exotic tail, and to the top of a colour change split in the centre, top crescent flanked section (visible as white line in catalogue photograph). Losses and consolidation splits to the leg, as visible in the photograph. There is a horizontal cut within the blue ground, between the top of the tail and almond coloured feathers on the neck (as visible in the catalogue photograph). Overall in very good condition for their age. Presently mounted next to each other on textile covered stretcher, as viewed.
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This lot is accompanied by a copy of the radiocarbon calibration report by the ETH University, Zurich, confirming the date of manufacture between 1295 and 1400 AD.