1907,1111.73

Description

Scope and content : D. X. 4. Painted wooden panel; rectangular. Four figures are represented, three being to the same scale, only half length. The fourth a full figure, seated, and to smaller scale. Beginning R. p., first figure, female, three-quarter face to L. p., dressed in simple, short-sleeved yellow vest, with pink diaper pattern, over under-coat of green, with long sleeves tight at wrist. On head a diadem, yellow, composed of two transverse fillets, holding a number of short upright fillets. Nimbus. L. p. arm outstretched to full extent, slightly raised, finger pointing to diadem of second figure. Flesh pink. Hair long and curly, black. Eyes black. All contour lines red, excepting those of folds on green sleeve, black. Second figure, female, three-quarter face to R. p., wearing simple yellow or pale-green vest, similar to first, spotted with simple flower pattern. Arms bare. Hair long, curly, drooping in many curls on to shoulders. Elongated ear. Face very Persian. On hair, which is dressed high, an elaborate jewel, elliptical, a centre gem surrounded by border divided by radiating lines, bound to head by fillet, and what appear to be several loose upward curling ends. Nimbus. Eyebrows and upper lashes, black. Contour lines of vest black; of face, arms, and nimbus, red. Between first and second figures a basket containing cocoons. Third figure, seated cross-legged on cushion (cf. D. II. 010). Head three-quarters to R. p.; pink, short-sleeved vest; green, long sleeves to under-coat. Lower part of legs and feet appear to be covered by boots. Four arms. R. p. front hand at breast, holding small object; L. p. front hand on thigh; R. p. hand back, upraised, holding spear-head (?); L. p. hand back, upraised, holding object indistinguishable. Dark coloured nimbus. Between third and fourth figures representation of a weaving frame (yellow), with horizontal warp. Fourth figure, standing, three-quarter face to R. p., holding in R. p. hand an instrument resembling a weaving comb or brush. Vest pink, diapered with large flowers, white, outlined red. Head similar to first figure, and has similar headdress. Eyebrows, eyes, hair, black; flesh pink; all contour lines, red. Nimbus yellow. To L. p. of figure outlines in red, possibly meant to represent the framework drum used in spinning silk thread. Whole of background of panel appears to have been painted light pink; on this petal-shaped daubs of dark pink. Wood well preserved, fairly hard. 18" (appr.) long, 4⅝" high, ½" thick. See Plate LXIII. [AK]