Silk Lampas,Lancé,and Brocade Document

Date17th century

MediumSilk and silver

DimensionsOverall (H x W): 13 3/4 x 20in. (34.9 x 50.8cm) Other (Design Repeat H x W): 11 3/4 x 5 3/4in. (29.8 x 14.6cm) Physical Description (PPI (front)): 40 Physical Description (EPI (front)): 88 Physical Description (PPI (back)): 48 Physical Description (EPI (back)): 80

Credit LineGift of Mrs. Francis H. Lenygon.

Object number1971-339

DescriptionThis rectangular fragment of maroon silk has a cream-colored design of closely repeating baroque floral sprigs. The maroon ground is held in a satin weave with supplementary weft floats of silver wire. The design consists of short stems of carnations twisted with another stem bearing a leaf and stylized fruit. The flowers have brocading done in silver thread (flat silver wrapped around a silk core). The top, bottom, and right edges are raw. The left edge is a selvedge that is pressed back. The selvedge is 3/8” wide with one cord along the outer edge and two cords along the inner edge. It is held in a tight satin weave with white warps that have a small amount of green and maroon fibers twisted in. There are remnants of threads, apparently used for tacking, throughout the fragment.
Label TextThe decorating firm Lenygon & Morant collected historic textiles as inspiration, including this seventeenth-century example.
MarkingsNo marks or inscriptions.
ProvenanceThis is one of a large collection of "decorator samples" from the firm of MORANT & COMPANY, obtained by Morant & Co., 91 New Bond Street, London, before 1930. The firm, later known as LENYGON & MORANT, was transferred to New York about 1930.
Given to CWF, 1971.