Fragment of Woman's Trousering
Unknown Artist
17th–18th century
Medium
Silk on linen; embroidered
Dimensions
H. 21 3/4 in. (55.2 cm) W. 4 1/4 in. (10.8 cm)
Classification
Textiles-Embroidered
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Lily S. Place, 1921
Accession Number
21.114.5
Art Historical Context
This exquisite fragment of woman's trousering, dating to the 17th–18th century, offers a glimpse into the refined world of Islamic textiles. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Department of Islamic Art, this narrow strip—measuring 21¾ inches high and just 4¼ inches wide likely part of the decorative banding on traditional loose-fitting trousers (shalwar) worn by women the Ottoman Empire, Safavid Persia, or related regions. Donated in 1921 by Lily S. Place, it survives as a testament to the era's masterful craftsmanship, when such garments blended functionality with opulent adornment. ...