Carpet Fragment
Unknown Artist
8th century
Medium
Wool, cotton, or linen
Dimensions
H. 5 1/2 in. (14 cm) W. 4 3/4 in. (12.1 cm)
Classification
Textiles-Rugs
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Phocion J. Tano, 1951
Accession Number
51.85.1c
Art Historical Context
This exquisite carpet fragment, dating to the 8th century, offers a rare glimpse into the early mastery of Islamic textile arts. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Department of Islamic Art, this small piece—measuring just 5½ by 4¾ inches (14 by 12.1 cm)—survives as a testament to the sophisticated weaving traditions of the Islamic world during the formative Umayyad or early Abbasid periods. Likely crafted in regions like Egypt, Syria, or Persia, it reflects the era's burgeoning trade networks and cultural exchanges along the Silk Road. Woven from wool, cotton, or linen, the fragment ...