tribaltextiles.info

Hello - I'm new to this forum so hope his post comes through. In any case, a few months ago I attended an estate sale that featured what were described as hand woven Syrian silk. All of these were of recent vintage and none appealed to me but I did find an old, seemingly silk “table cover”. The folks running the sale knew nothing about it, but I assume it too is from Syria. It is quite heavy, appears to incorporate gold thread and, curiously seems to have been “painted” with gilt – this in a geometric pattern over a woven pattern? My instinct is that the paint is a later addition. I am attaching some photos and would welcome any views. The textile measures approximately 56” x 50”.

Note: I tried to make photos smaller and the resolution is not good. If need be I'll try to load some better photos. Two of the photos are on the front and one the back shows the gold (tarnished) threads.

Welcome to the forum!

I have reduced your images so that they are a maximum of 600 dpi wide and do not distort viewing of the thread which is requested for posting photos on the forum - see viewtopic.php?f=1&t=178 which is the very first (permanent post) on this 'General' section of the forum.

I am afraid, however, that it is pretty impossible to get an idea of the textile as you have not provided an overall shot of it - really a basic requirement for an attempt at an ID - and, as you say, the images have very poor resolution. I am not sure, even with more and better photos, if we will be able to give you much help as I cannot think of a member that has a special interest in Syrian textiles - if, indeed, this is what it is. If you want to send me some better photos by email I can see about editing them to forum size for you. This might entice someone to post an idea or two.

_________________
Pamela

http://www.tribaltextiles.info
on-line tribal textiles resource

I have been sent some more photos on the 'Syrian?' textile which I attach here.

_________________
Pamela

http://www.tribaltextiles.info
on-line tribal textiles resource

The struggle has continued to try and get better photos of this intriguing textile! See below for a hanging, overall shot and then a detail of the painted gold. This shot also shows up a very nice herringbone weave.

_________________
Pamela

http://www.tribaltextiles.info
on-line tribal textiles resource

Hi

My guess is that it is a Syrian silk headscarf, worn by women. I say this based upon the size, shape and fringe.

http://sarajo.com/catalogue/textiles/as ... p1538.html

http://www.palestineheritage.org/syrian_costumes.htm

I have no idea what is going on with the painting, which I doubt is original.

Hard to be sure but that's the only thing it resembles to me.

_________________
Anna

Greetings All- Anna's mention of "headscarf", along with the photo of the tassels made me dig out a piece from our collection: an old headwrap from Salt, Jordan. It shares the same tassels and lovely herringbone weave, as well as color and material. It has been folded into an elongated shape across the bias/corners to form a long, flat piece for wrapping around the head, almost turban-like, and has been hand-sewn to retain that form. Hence, the photos I show feature a very different form of textile, but I'm pretty certain it's the same thing. Mine has had metallic threads woven into it to form a pattern, almost ikat-like, and has no applied paint. Have a look:

There was a complete costume, including two dresses and headwrap offered by Christie's in 2008, with a good photo of the headwrap being worn:

Hope this helps!