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Fragment with eagles in roundels from the Reliquary of Saint Librada in Siguenza Cathedral
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art. Free to download, adapt and use — no permission needed.
About this work
This fragment belongs to a group of Spanish silks characterized by their design of aligned, slightly oval roundels that frame animals or birds. A single heraldic eagle fills the center of the roundel, and under his talons are Arabic inscriptions that read Blessing . The beaded border is animated with composite beasts and harpies. It was made during a period when the Islamic cities of Spain were the leading producers of luxury silks in Europe.
Cleveland Museum of Art’s own descriptionCredit lineFragment with eagles in roundels from the Reliquary of Saint Librada in Siguenza Cathedral, 1100–50. Spain, Almeria. Silk and gold thread: lampas weave; overall: 36.8 x 40.6 cm (14 1/2 x 16 in.); mount: 47 x 50.8 cm (18 1/2 x 20 in.); framed: 49.5 x 53.3 cm (19 1/2 x 21 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund, 1952.15