Napkin of linen embroidered in white thread; ground, plain white linen; design, a conventional rectangular floriation, filled in with other floriations, and in the middle an eight-petaled flower, and in the square intervening spaces outside a fleur-de-lis shooting out of each corner, all in white broad thread. German, late 14th century. 23 inches by 13¼ inches.
Like many other examples of the kind, the present one can show its elaborate and beautifully-executed design only by being held up to the light, when it comes forth in perfection.
1264.
Silk Damask; ground, crimson; design, a net-work in broad bands of yellow silk and gold wrought like twisted cords, and the meshes, which are wreathed inside with a green garland bearing green and white flowers, filled in with a conventional artichoke in yellow silk mixed with gold thread, and edged with a green and white border. Spanish, early 16th century. 17 inches by 15½ inches.
As a furniture-stuff, this must have been very effective; and from the under side being thickly plastered with strong glue, the last service of the present piece would seem to have been for the decoration of the wall of some room.
1265.
Silk Damask; ground, deep blue, or violet; design, a sprinkling of small stars and rows of large angels, some issuing from clouds and swinging thuribles in the left hand, others kneeling in worship with uplifted hands, bearing crowns of thorns, and the last row kneeling and holding up before them a cross of the Latin shape. Florentine, late 14th century. 21½ inches by 13 inches.
From its form this piece seems to have been cut off from a chasuble; and the stuff itself, it is likely, was woven expressly for the purple vestments worn in Lent, and more particularly during Passion time. At No. 7072 another portion of the same damask is described.