Silk of Alhambra

This piece is known as the “Silk of Alhambra” because its design recalls the tiles of the Nasrid palace of Granada. It is the only one that remains intact. Due to its dimensions, it can be supposed that it was made on a very wide loom, so that it could be used as a drape or curtain. The decorative motifs are laid out in parallel stripes over a yellow and red background, using other colorful silks. The design is symmetrical both horizontally and vertically. The central band is the axis of the composition, flanked on both sides by four other bands in mirror image. With this repetition of motifs, the viewer experiences a sensation of infinity and is able to appreciate the delicate details of the fabric. Instead of gold thread to achieve its golden appearance, yellow silk was used. This technique is very characteristic of the fabrics of Granada at the end of the fourteenth century and into the the fifteenth. On the casing there are two inscriptions written in Nasjí that can be translated as “eternal glory, venture and prosperity, joy and happiness”. These inscriptions are hopeful talismans for its owner and for the viewer.