Lions from a Tunic, c. 800's. The royal lions and jeweled border in this colourful roundel, originally from a tunic, conveyed power and wealth. The symmetrical design with lions and ducks flanking the central palmette (fan-shaped plant form) indicates that the pattern was copied from a costlier silk textile woven on a loom that automatically repeated the design in mirror-image symmetry.

---

Size: 3109px × 3108px
Photo credit: © Heritage Images / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: -, 8th, 9th, abbasid, art, century, cleveland, dyed, egypt, heritage, islamic, linen, museum, period, supplementary, tapestry, textile, undyed, unknown, weave, weft, wool, wrapping