Roundel with Winged Horse
Unknown Artist
9th century
Medium
Wool, linen; tapestry weave
Dimensions
Textile: H. 10 1/2 in. (26.7 cm) W. 7 1/4 in. (18.4 cm) Mount: H. 22 1/2 in. (57.2 cm) W. 16 1/2 in. (41.9 cm)
Classification
Textiles-Woven
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1974
Accession Number
1974.113.7
Tags
Art Historical Context
Nestled in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Islamic collection, this *Roundel with Winged* is a exquisite example of 9th-century artistry. Crafted from wool and linen tapestry weave—a labor-intensive technique where colored weft threads are woven to create intricate patterns without floats—this small roundel (10½ × 7¼ inches) likely served as a decorativeallion on garments, furnishings, or ceremonial objects. Its compact size belies the skill involved, as weavers interlocked yarns to produce vibrant, durable designs suited for everyday luxury in the Islamic world. Dating to the Abbasid era, w...