Fragment of a Tunic
Unknown Artist
5th–6th century
Medium
Wool, linen; plain weave, tapestry weave
Dimensions
Max. H. 11 5/16 in. (28.7 cm) Max. W. 6 1/2 in. (16.5 cm)
Classification
Textiles
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of George F. Baker, 1890
Accession Number
90.5.373
Art Historical Context
This delicate fragment of a tunic, to the 5th–6th, offers a glimpse into the daily lives of people in the early medieval Near East or Egypt. Crafted from wool and linen—staple fibers valued for their durability and availability—the piece survives as a testament to ancient textile preservation, likely aided by arid burial conditions. Now housed in the Metropolitan Museum Art's Department of Islamic Art, it measures just 11 5/16 inches high by 6 1/2 inches wide,ing at its original role as a decorative panel on everyday garments worn by men, women, or children. The artwork showcases sophisticate...