Band Fragment
Unknown Artist
12th century
Medium
Linen; embroidered in silk
Dimensions
L. 3 1/8 in. (8 cm) W. 2 7/16 in. (6.2 cm)
Classification
Textiles-Embroidered
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1927
Accession Number
27.169.7
Art Historical Context
This exquisite *Band Fragment*, crafted in the 12th century, offers a glimpse into the refined world of Islamic textile artistry. Made from linen and meticulously embroidered with silk threads, this narrow strip measures just 31/8 inches long 2 7/16 inches wide. Its diminutive size hints at its original use as a decorative border—perhaps adorning garments, turbans, or household furnishings—where such embellishments signified wealth and craftsmanship. In the Islamic world of the medieval period, embroidery was a revered technique, blending practicality with opulence. Silk, a luxurious import a...