Greek Metsovo Bed Cover

Greek Metsovo Bed Cover.

This textile was made in Metsovo in northern Greece at around 1900. Judging from the size, it was most likely used as a bed cover.

Metsovo textiles were made in an interlocking tapestry weave in wool on a horizontal loom, which was commonly employed by Metsovite weavers, producing panels of about 50 to 60 cm width (for research into this area, see "Textiles of the Vlachs of Metsovo" by Catherine Van Steen & Eleni Lykiardopoulos, published in HALI,  Issue 63, June 1992, pp. 90 - 95). These narrow panels were then assembled to form functional as well as decorative textiles for the home, much like jajims from various weaving areas of Iran (for examples on our website, see https://www.christopherleggeorientalcarpets.com/products/view/antique-persian-bidjar-jajim/     and  https://www.christopherleggeorientalcarpets.com/products/view/sangsar-mazandaran-jajim/ ). In the case of the textile in hand, the three panels are each about 59.5 cm wide, so within the range described in the above mentioned article. 

The colour scheme with a predominance of a dark blue, almost black ground includes green, red, yellow, light blue and white, giving it a somewhat more cheerful appearance than slightly earlier pieces. 

This is an unusual and rare textile.

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This object is eligible for a Certificate of BADA Provenance

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