MFA 33.371, Fragment with wrestling lions and harpies, Southern Spain (early 12th century)

Artifact Information

Museum of Fine Arts, Boston 33.371. 50X43 cm (Ellen Page Hall Fund).

Fragment of shroud be [1].

Fragment with wrestling lions and harpies. © Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

Summary of results

One yellow thread from the collar seam was removed for dye analysis

Yellow thread from the collar seam was samples and analyzed. The major components of the plant are flavonoids: rutin, keampferol and quecetin glycosides. The dyeing source was probably pagoda tree buds. [2]

References

[1] Gary Dickinson, and Linda Wrigglesworth, Imperial Wardrobe, Bamboo Press, London, (1990) 199.

[2] Xian Zhang,Karina Corrigan, Bruce MacLaren, Mimi Leveque, and Richard A. Laursen, Characterization of Yellow Dyes in Nineteenth Century Chinese Textiles. Studies in Conservation 52, 211-220 (2007).