- Collection type
- Photograph
- Description
- Photograph of five carved wooden fabric printing blocks from Jisr al-Shughur. The two larger rectangular blocks are carved with zigzag designs, one plain, one with patterns of dots and petals within the zigzags. The three smaller, thin blocks are carved with repeating designs of hearts, curls, and flowers. The blocks are arranged on a white cloth with a black printed design of abstract flowers.
- Person
- Expedition or compiler Jenny Balfour-Paul
- Photographer Jenny Balfour-Paul
- PRM source Jenny Balfour-Paul
- Date / Period
- Date of photograph: 1985
- Acquisition information
- Donated: 14/05/2018
- Photographic process
- Black & White
- Dimensions
- Image dimension 35 mm
- Object numbers
- Accession number: 2018.137.2209
- Research and responses
Jenny Balfour-Paul's Notes from Syria field trip early October 1985 ... 'At Jisr al Shughar Visited two fabric printers who stopped working about 10 years ago... Many of the blocks are in pairs. They cut their own wooden blocks (as did the Aleppo printers). One had the outline pattern, and the other, which matched it (its 'brother') printed larger areas of colour and had pieces of felt stuck to it. They seemed to call these Assas and Anatir. As lots of water was need in the printing process they carried out their work on the banks of the Orontes. (And said that the indigo dyers worked in workshops in the town)...' [JMC 08/09/2020]
These five fabric printing blocks are among the objects donated by Jenny Balfour-Paul. Please see 2018.37.10 - .14 for the object records. [JMC 08/09/2020]
Related
2018.37.13Wooden printing block. One surface of the block is carved with a central pattern of hearts and a border of scroll design on either side. [FB 15/3/2018]2018.37.13
2018.37.10Wooden printing block.2018.37.10
2018.37.11Wooden printing block. [FB 15/3/2018]2018.37.11
2018.37.12Wooden printing block. One surface of the block is carved with an organic pattern. [FB 15/3/2018]2018.37.12
2018.37.14Wooden printing block. One surface of the block is carved with a pattern consisting of floral and geometric motifs. [FB 15/3/2018]2018.37.14
Further items to explore
2018.137.1279View of the spiral minaret and part of the courtyard of Ibn Tulun Mosque, seen through an arch on the other side of the courtyard.2018.137.1279
2018.137.808A rammed earth house in Rada'a. Four square windows are pictured with blue shutters, with a girl looking out of the far left. The space above the windows is ornamented with two arches at the right, and a large semicircle with circles and arches cut out at the left.2018.137.808
2018.137.875Indigo dyed cloths are hung out to dry in a courtyard in Bayt Muhammad Ali Abud. The lengths of blue cloth hang from racks above the courtyard. A number of indigo dye vats are pictured to the left.2018.137.875
2018.137.1306Drawers of brown dried medicinal substances in the 'Academy of Esences' shop in Cairo. The two drawers are labelled 'Abyssinian's Heel' and 'Tongue's Small Bird', with Arabic lettering above.2018.137.1306
2018.137.1045A former indigo dyer demonstrates his old technique in an Aleppo dyeshop. He appears to dip an indigo-dyed cloth into a large stone vat.2018.137.1045
2018.137.102Children on a mini ferris-wheel in a playground in Hama.2018.137.102
2018.137.194One of the Phoenician burial towers (known as al Maghazil) at Amrit. The tower comprises three tiers of monumental stone blocks, terminating in a dome at the top. A girl touches the base for scale.2018.137.194
2018.137.3The ruined fortress of Chastel Rouge, also called Qal'at Yahmur. Shown with scrubland in the foreground.2018.137.3