Part 1 of Slit-Weave Tapestry with Jack Cassin
Part 2 of Slit-Weave Tapestry with Jack Cassin
Part 3 of Slit-Weave Tapestry with Jack Cassin
Jack Cassin is a well-known textile and carpet researcher and collector. He curates two fascinating websites, each well worth a visit:
Rug Kazbah
Weaving Art Museum and Research Institute
Jack and I are discussing this textile. I'm going to call it "the Spiral Textile" here. It is in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum in London and is documented as having been found at El Azam, Egypt. Although it has not been carbon dated, or its age known from any other source, some believe it is Later Islamic Period (800-1200 AD), but Jack suspects it is older.
The actual colors are copper and white, similar to this piece presented on RugKazbah:
In the last post, I attempted to compare the Spiral Textile above to the Cartouche Textile below, about which more is known.
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| Cartouche Textile Picture From RugKazbah |
To summarize my thoughts:
When size, color, and probable provenience are taken into consideration, the Spiral Textile bears some resemblance to the Cartouche Textile.
The Cartouche Textile has a provable association with death in that it was found in a tomb. It may have been used in rites associated with a transition from life to death, such as sacrifice. This would be substantiated if it could be proven that the stain is indeed blood.
The Spiral Textile has images that can be associated with the three stages of ASC and the multi-tiered cosmos. Its size suggests it may have been used as an apron, possibly in ritual context. Its color and mode of dying have ritual significance. It is a type of textile that is commonly found in royal tombs, and therefore may be associable with death.
Jack's Response:
1. Relating the V&A textile to the Amenhotep textile is somewhat a long stretch, as the latter is clearly "Egyptian" and the former most probably, and I might say definitely, not It might have come from Egypt but I'd wager it is decidedly older, and therefore made by pre-dynastic peoples who were not in any sense of the word "Egyptian". 2. When thinking about all early "historic" textiles, particularly those of the vintage these two are, one would never be far off base to say they are all spiritual Probably only the archetypes, the earliest examples in the continuums to which all weavings belong, were the potent and powerful spiritual tools to which I have eluded The two textile discussed here should definitely be considered as such. 3. Some of the icons on the V&A textile can be well compared to Neolithic and Early Bronze Age ones, particularly ones on ceramics. 4. Your guessing the red dye is ochre is surely a possibility but I would defer and guess some insect dye like Kermes or Lac 5. Since both textiles are small, too small to be used as "prayer mats", I was not implying, and neither should anyone, my argument for a prayer rug being a spiritual tool can be applied to either of them 6. The V&A textile origins are mysterious, while the Amenhotep's far more historically explainable; but their use, importance and the significance of their iconographies remains unknown. And trying to learn the answers tothose questions is highly unlikely as there is no comparable material orreferences on which to base any ideas or even guesses. 7. One thing is sure, though, both contain iconography that is unusual and relatable to ASC experience.
I'd like to thank Jack for engaging in this discussion! It is a real treat to have someone of his caliber and expertise visit this blog. MIRI
