Ceremonial saddle blanket

The whole surface of the caparison is covered with metal thread embroidery. On the reverse, on a basis embroidered with silver thread, stitched with zigzag pattern, there is a raised work of gilt metal thread: two facing double-tailed, rampant lions among scrolls with roses and S-shaped tulips forming a tree of life in the centre. In the border-strip there is a similar scroll decoration, with two palmettes of tulips in the two corners. The three sides of the caparison used to be framed with wine-red silk, which is now gingery, and the decoration is also metal-thread embroidery: narrow, wavy scroll and foliage and large stylized flowers. The decoration of the silk border had been made by someone else, and was presumably added later to the caparison. It is probably identical with the following item of the 1725 inventory of Frakno: "A new gold caparison, sewn with silver thread, decorated with flowers and two lions" (Inventarium Thesauri Fraknensis Anno 1725. Almarium Sub. Nris. 77 et 78. Nro. 13. — Inventory of the Museum of Applied Arts 236/1957).