Fragment of a lampas-woven textile, silk and gilded lamella of animal substrate both spun around a silk core and woven flat
Whereas geometric patterns in the Mongol/Il-Khanid period are often found on metalwork and ceramics, they are rarer on textiles.
The intertwined bands form a forceful pattern of hexagons that enclose stylized flowers. The pattern at the top is interrupted by a frieze with a highly stylized Arabic pseudo-inscription. Here the gilded lamella of animal substrate was woven flat, giving it a darker cast today.
In the geometric patterns, in contrast, the lamella was spun around a silk core in the sections that appear brownish today. When it was new, the fabric had a golden shine.
The intertwined bands form a forceful pattern of hexagons that enclose stylized flowers. The pattern at the top is interrupted by a frieze with a highly stylized Arabic pseudo-inscription. Here the gilded lamella of animal substrate was woven flat, giving it a darker cast today.
In the geometric patterns, in contrast, the lamella was spun around a silk core in the sections that appear brownish today. When it was new, the fabric had a golden shine.