Dragon Carpet
Unknown Artist
late 18th–early 19th century
Medium
Wool, cotton; plain weave with supplementary-weft embroidery (Soumak)
Dimensions
L. 90 in. (228.6 cm) W. 70 3/4 in. (179.7 cm)
Classification
Textiles-Rugs
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Joseph V. McMullan, 1971
Accession Number
1971.263.5
Tags
Art Historical Context
Step into the opulent world of Islamic textiles with the *Dragon Carpet*, a magnificent wool and cotton rug from the late18th to early 19th century Measuring an impressive 7 feet 6 inches long by nearly 6 feet wide, this large-scale floor covering showcases the intricate Soumak technique—a supplementary-weft embroidery on a plain weave foundation. This method creates a tapestry-like texture with bold, durable patterns, colored wefts wrap around the warps to form vibrant motifs without the pile of knotted rugs. The result is a flat, reversible weave prized for its clarity and strength. The car...