Fragment of a Band

Art Historical Context

This delicate *Fragment of a Band*, to the 6th century, offers a glimpse into the sophisticated textile traditions of the Late Antique world, preserved in the Metropolitan Museum of's Department of Islamic Art. Craft from linen and wool, narrow strip—measuring just 6 3/8 inches high 3 1/8 inches wide—was likely part of a larger garment, furnishing, or decorative band. Such fragments, often discovered in archaeological contexts like burials, highlight the perishability of ancient fabrics and the skill required to weave them for everyday or ceremonial use. In the 6th century, textile production...