Fragment of a Floral Carpet
Unknown Artist
16th century
Medium
Silk (warp), wool (weft and pile); asymmetrically knotted pile
Dimensions
H. 11 in. (27.9 cm) W. 15 3/4 in. (40 cm)
Classification
Textiles-Rugs
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1919
Accession Number
19.81.1
Art Historical Context
This exquisite *Fragment of a Floral Carpet from the 16th offers a glimpse into the opulent world of Islamic textile artistry. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Department Islamic Art, this small yet vibrant piece (11 x 15¾ inches) showcases intricate floral motifs typical of the period, likely woven in a workshop in the Ottoman Empire or Safavid Persia, where carpets were prized symbols of wealth and refinement. Crafted with a silk warp for a fine, lustrous foundation and wool weft and pile for durability and rich color, the carpet employs an asymmetrically knotted pile technique—a ...