ASIATIC FABRICS

Durham until the end of the ioth century. The body waswrapped among other fabrics, in a fine linen sheet well waxed; athick robe of silk, woven with the figure of a knight, and a robe ofthick soft silk of purple and crimson, having a woven patterncomposed of a circle of two feet in diameter, within which is arepresentation of a throne, placed upon water, with fishes andducks, attributes of St. Cuthbert.

This example (fig. 22) is somewhat fragmentary in design, anddoes not show the same masterly drawing and distribution thatdistinguishes the contemporary Byzantine fabrics, suggesting ratherthe product of an early German or Englishloom.

There were also found with these robesa beautiful embroidered stole and maniple ,bearing the inscription of the Bishop“ Fridestan,” who died in A.D. 933, andthis gives an approximate date for theseinteresting robes.

Beautiful examples of another classof silken fabrics are preserved in theCathedrals of Zante and Mayence, andin the Victoria and Albert Museum. Theornament, in outline only, has flowingogival bands, enclosing symmetrical floralforms; two representative examples ofthese beautiful patterns are given onplate 14. Another fine example of thisclass was the robe found on the bodyof the German Emperor, Otho the Great(A.D. 936 - 973 )-

These fabrics possess excellent technicalqualities of weaving, together with a perfect distribution and reticenceof patterning that bear tribute to the skill and taste of the earlycraftsman.

Fig. 21.—St. John Chrysostom,Venice.

ASIATIC FABRICS

Although remains of Asiatic woven fabrics are rare, there isno doubt that the art of figured weaving reached there a highdegree of excellence before it did so in Europe.

The significance of Eastern ornament, the perfection reached inthe cultivation of silk and cotton of exquisite fineness and delicacy,

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