Why was this made, and how was it used?
By Christopher Smith '22
This silk is weft-faced, which is a complicated technique that would have needed sophisticated technology. This makes the textile expensive and implies that only a rich patron could afford it. This textile could have been used as a curtain in a rich home or building (like a church), or as a garment, worn on special occasions. Curtains are large in size, which will catch the attention of a viewer, and if placed in front of a window, a natural light source, will capture the attention of a viewer even further. Wearing the textile as a garment would also be an effective way to show off a decorative piece like this. If worn during a ceremony, it would attract attention to the individual wearing it. We know that in England in the 13th century, King Henry III owned a textile with Samson in combat with a lion on it, but it is not known if this textile was the one that he owned. Henry III later gifted his Samson textile to St. Paul's cathedral.