Lot 32
A Sogdian silk samite fragment with confronting lions Central Asia, 7th-9th Century
25 October 2021, 11:00 BST
London, New Bond Street£15,000 - £20,000
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A Sogdian silk samite fragment with confronting lions
Central Asia, 7th-9th Century
Central Asia, 7th-9th Century
of square form, woven in red, blue and cream silks, depicting a large roundel enclosing two confronting lions standing above two calfs, the roundel borders with pearl motifs and floral designs, the corners with stylised flowers, mounted
45.9 x 44.8 cm.
45.9 x 44.8 cm.
Footnotes
By the 8th Century in Central Asia, the imagery of paired lions had a long-established association with power, kingship and protection in the ancient world. Such iconographical devices were employed extensively in luxury textiles of the period as part of the vocabulary of trade and diplomacy, intended to reflect the wealth and status of the owner or recipient. A silk robe with roundels depicting similar lions was sold at Sotheby's Arts of the Islamic World, London, 25th April 2012, lot 499; and also a fragment with paired lions see Sotheby's, Arts of the Islamic World, 3rd October 2012, lot 134. For a full discussion on luxury silk weaving under the Sogdians in Central Asia, see Watt, J. and A. Wardwell, When Silk was Gold: Central Asian and Chinese Textiles, Exhibition Catalogue, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 26th October 1997 – 4th January 1998, pp. 21-37.