Carpet Fragment
Unknown Artist
8th century
Medium
Wool, cotton, or linen
Dimensions
H. 9 3/8 in. (23.8 cm) W. 8 1/4 in. (21 cm)
Classification
Textiles-Rugs
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Phocion J. Tano, 1951
Accession Number
51.85.1b
Art Historical Context
This exquisite carpet fragment, dating to the 8th century, offers tantalizing glimpse into the early Islamic world. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Department of Islamic Art, this small textile—measuring just 9 3/8 by 8 1/4 inches (23.8 by 21 cm)—was from wool, cotton, or linen materials prized for their durability and versatility in rug weaving. Donated in 1951 by Phocion J. Tano, it survives as a rare remnant of a larger floor covering or prayer rug, highlighting the artistry of anonymous weavers during the Umayyad or early Abbasid eras. In Islamic culture, textiles like this wer...