Lot 28
Two Sogdian silk samite fragments with ducks Central Asia, 7th-9th Century
25 October 2021, 11:00 BST
London, New Bond Street£15,000 - £20,000
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Two Sogdian silk samite fragments with ducks
Central Asia, 7th-9th Century
Central Asia, 7th-9th Century
both of irregular polygonal form, woven in blue and cream silks, depicting hexagonal frames enclosing two ducks and seven partial ducks each holding a pearl necklace with their beak and standing on stylised daises with pearl motifs, interspersed with cartouches containing stylised floral designs, the borders with geometric patterns, mounted
42.2 x 33.3 cm and 43.8 x 34.3 cm.
42.2 x 33.3 cm and 43.8 x 34.3 cm.
Footnotes
The colours of the silk fragments in this lot are unique when compared with the other lots in the auction in that they are devoid of the colour red. Instead, they have a honey-gold ground, and the designs are in various shades of blue. They would likely have served as diplomatic gifts and given that they were symbols of nobility and wealth would have been highly prized. A similar fragment, albeit with a green ground and yellow design, can be seen in Epic Iran: 5000 years of culture, V & A exhibition, London, 2021, p. 130. For a silk samite shirt made from the same fabric sold at Sotheby's see Arts of the Islamic Worlds, 23rd October 2019, lot 208.