IRAN, 18TH CENTURY

This finely worked embroidery uses the technique of couching, where vast quantities of metal-thread, often silver or silver-gilt, were held down by regular silk threads to create patterns. Such textiles would be used commonly as wrappings around treasured objects where the rich embroidery would reflect the valued item within (Jennifer Wearden and Patricia Baker (eds.), Iranian Textiles, London, 2010, p.62). The present lot is a particularly successful example using two colours of silk further highlighted by a multitude of patterns within the couched thread.