Fragment of a Tunic

Art Historical Context

This delicate **Fragment of a Tunic from the 5th offers a tantalizing glimpse into the daily life and craftsmanship of the late ancient world. Crafted from wool and linen using plain weave for the base and tapestry weave decorative elements, this small piece—measuring just 5½ by 4⅝ inches—was once part of a garment worn in the Near East or Egypt, regions later central to Islamic culture. Its placement in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Islamic Art department highlights how early textile traditions bridged late antiquity and the dawn of Islam. The dual-weave technique is particularly notewort...