Fragment zijdeweefsel c. 1300 - 1900

This silk fabric fragment, crafted by an anonymous hand, is adorned with symbols that resonate across cultures and epochs. Note the majestic lions, emblems of power since ancient Mesopotamia, mirrored here in heraldic symmetry. Above, peacocks perch amidst stylized foliage, their iridescent plumage evoking paradise and immortality, a motif borrowed from Persia. Consider how these symbols migrate and morph; the lion, a solar emblem in antiquity, becomes a guardian of thrones, while the peacock, once sacred to Juno, adorns secular tapestries. These symbols are vessels of collective memory, carrying echoes of past beliefs and aspirations. Their emotional power lies in this resonance, stirring subconscious associations with strength, beauty, and the eternal cycle of life.