Northern Greek silk-embroidered linen fragment
Probably Epirus, seventeenth-eighteenth century
Worked in red, blue, green and white silks on a biscuit-coloured linen, with a (?)bridegroom on horseback flanked by two standing couples on the lower left, and a two vases of flowers flanked by a double-headed eagle on the lower right; the remaining ground filled with a variety of motifs including human figures, animals, birds including a cockerel, flowers, including tulips and carnations and two single-handled tankards
155 by 51cm., 61 by 20 in.
Provenance
Private collection, Surrey
Sold
The Ottoman province of Epirus, with its capital at Ioannina, was a prosperous centre of the textile industry from the seventeenth to the nineteenth century. It was said to be the most important city of the Empire in this respect, producing everything from court dress to army uniforms. It became famous for the finesse of its embroidery and as such was important in the provision of items for the dowry.
Some of the finest surviving embroideries from Epirus can be found in the Benaki Museum, Athens, including a number of processional friezes similar to this one.