Textiles & Identity in the Medieval and Early Modern Mediterranean (original) (raw)

Textiles & Identity in the Medieval and Εarly Modern Mediterranean: paradigms of contexts and cross-cultural exchanges Textiles offer a rich opportunity to explore the projection of identity, both within and between social and cultural groups. A pertinent arena for such an exploration is the intercultural region of the Mediterranean. This workshop will bring together a group of junior and senior scholars to investigate and elucidate the role of textiles in the cultures of the Medieval and early Modern Mediterranean, and its periphery, with a focus on specific case studies. Our investigation will analyze textiles as tools for projecting identity within specific contexts, whether cross-cultural or not. Institutionalized practices of textile use and reuse, written and unwritten rules governing ceremonial use, the departure from standard practices, the active reception of imports and their interpretation will form the major topics examined by the participating scholars. Our directed investigation will seek to identity parallels and points of contact between the use of textiles in various political entities, and among social groups and cultures. Program 3 June 2016 Venue: Museum of Islamic Art, 22 Ag. Asomaton & 12 Dipylou St., Athens Welcoming remarks 9:30 John Bennet, British School at Athens 9:40 Mina Moraitou, Benaki Museum Opening remarks 9:50 Nikolaos Vryzidis, British School at Athens 1. Medieval Islamic textiles in the Eastern Mediterranean 10:00 Alison Ohta, Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain & Ireland: Chair 10:10 Scott Redford, SOAS-University of London: ‘Seljuk silks, standards and emblems’ 10:30 Marielle Martiniani-Reber, Musées d’Art et d’Histoire de Genève: ‘The relationship between Islamic and Byzantine textiles during the Middle Byzantine period’ 10: 50 Maria Sardi, SOAS-University of London: ‘Towards a standardization of Mamluk aesthetic: influences and identity as reflected on textiles’ 11:10 Discussion 11:30 Coffee break 2. Western Mediterranean cross-cultural encounters 11:40 Mina Moraitou, Benaki Museum: Chair 11: 50 Ana Cabrera, Museo Nacional de Artes Decorativas & Laura Rodríguez Peinado, Universidad Complutense de Madrid: ‘Medieval Textiles from the Iberian Peninsula: state of the art and new approaches of study’ 12:20 Vera-Simone Schulz, Kunsthistorisches Institut in Florenz: ‘Entangled Identities: Textiles and the Art and Architecture of the Italian Peninsula in a Mediterranean Perspective’ 12:40 Discussion 13:00 Lunch break 3. The multi-cultural Ottoman Empire 14:00 Helen Philon, Independent scholar: Chair 14:10 Anna Ballian, Benaki Museum (Emerita): ‘Chios silks’ 14:30 Amanda Philips, University of Virginia: ‘Interventions in technology and fashion: the case of Ottoman compound weaves’ 14:50 Elena Papastavrou, Hellenic Ministry of Culture & Sports: ‘Greek-Orthodox cultural identity as reflected on Constantinopolitan Church Embroidery’ 15:10 Discussion 15:30 Coffee break 4. Eastern and Oriental Orthodox Christian textiles 15:40 Warren Woodfin, City University of New York: Chair 15:50 Dickran Kouymjian, California State University-Fresno (Emeritus): ‘Armenian Altar Curtains: Repository of Tradition and Innovation’ 16:10 Nikolaos Vryzidis, British School at Athens: ‘Animal motifs on Asian silks used by the Greek Church: an afterlife of Byzantine iconography?’ 16: 30 Jacopo Gnisci, Independent scholar: ‘Towards a History of Ecclesiastical Dress in Early Solomonic Ethiopia’ 16:50 Discussion General discussion and concluding remarks 17:10 Nikolaos Vryzidis, British School at Athens End 4 June 2016 Study day (attendance by invitation only) 10:00-13:00 Handling session (Benaki Museum Peiraios annex), hosted by Mina Moraitou 15:00 Museum visit (Benaki Museum main building), hosted by Anastasia Drandaki End