The Use of Metal Threads in the Decoration of Late and Post-Byzantine Embroidered Church Textiles

Abstract: This paper discusses the result of the technical analysis of metal threads used in the decoration of Byzantine and post Byzantine embroidered church textiles. The study of minute samples from embroidered textiles dated between the 14th and the 19th centuries from Greek Institutions gave in...

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Main Author: Anna Karatzani
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Centre d'Études Balkaniques 2021-12-01
Series:Cahiers Balkaniques
Subjects:
Online Access:http://journals.openedition.org/ceb/18830
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author Anna Karatzani
author_facet Anna Karatzani
author_sort Anna Karatzani
collection DOAJ
description Abstract: This paper discusses the result of the technical analysis of metal threads used in the decoration of Byzantine and post Byzantine embroidered church textiles. The study of minute samples from embroidered textiles dated between the 14th and the 19th centuries from Greek Institutions gave information about the types of metal threads as well as the manufacturing techniques and the materials used for their production.Only wires and metal strips wound around a silk core (wound strips) are recorded in the Byzantine‑Greek context from the 14th throughout the 17th century. From then onwards more types such as strips, tir‑tir threads, sequins (as metal decorative elements) and numerous combined threads are introduced, while wires are used less. The use of these new threads is related to the general stylistic changes that occurred in church embroidery during that time through the influence of Western European and Eastern traditions.
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spelling doaj.art-eff264c86678486d9da79a6ad591e8992022-12-22T04:17:07ZengCentre d'Études BalkaniquesCahiers Balkaniques0290-74022261-41842021-12-014810.4000/ceb.18830The Use of Metal Threads in the Decoration of Late and Post-Byzantine Embroidered Church TextilesAnna KaratzaniAbstract: This paper discusses the result of the technical analysis of metal threads used in the decoration of Byzantine and post Byzantine embroidered church textiles. The study of minute samples from embroidered textiles dated between the 14th and the 19th centuries from Greek Institutions gave information about the types of metal threads as well as the manufacturing techniques and the materials used for their production.Only wires and metal strips wound around a silk core (wound strips) are recorded in the Byzantine‑Greek context from the 14th throughout the 17th century. From then onwards more types such as strips, tir‑tir threads, sequins (as metal decorative elements) and numerous combined threads are introduced, while wires are used less. The use of these new threads is related to the general stylistic changes that occurred in church embroidery during that time through the influence of Western European and Eastern traditions.http://journals.openedition.org/ceb/18830Byzantine and post Byzantine embroidered church textilesmanufacturing techniquesmetal threadssequinstir‑tir threads
spellingShingle Anna Karatzani
The Use of Metal Threads in the Decoration of Late and Post-Byzantine Embroidered Church Textiles
Cahiers Balkaniques
Byzantine and post Byzantine embroidered church textiles
manufacturing techniques
metal threads
sequins
tir‑tir threads
title The Use of Metal Threads in the Decoration of Late and Post-Byzantine Embroidered Church Textiles
title_full The Use of Metal Threads in the Decoration of Late and Post-Byzantine Embroidered Church Textiles
title_fullStr The Use of Metal Threads in the Decoration of Late and Post-Byzantine Embroidered Church Textiles
title_full_unstemmed The Use of Metal Threads in the Decoration of Late and Post-Byzantine Embroidered Church Textiles
title_short The Use of Metal Threads in the Decoration of Late and Post-Byzantine Embroidered Church Textiles
title_sort use of metal threads in the decoration of late and post byzantine embroidered church textiles
topic Byzantine and post Byzantine embroidered church textiles
manufacturing techniques
metal threads
sequins
tir‑tir threads
url http://journals.openedition.org/ceb/18830
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