Sari Border
Unknown Artist
17th century
Medium
Silk, metal wrapped thread; double weave with supplementary twill, brocaded
Dimensions
Textile: L. 17 1/2 in. (44.5 cm) W. 41 in. (104.1 cm)
Classification
Textiles-Costumes
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1928
Accession Number
28.50
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite *Sari Border* from 17th century showcases the opulent textile artistry of the Islamic world, likely produced in Mughal India during the empire's golden age. Crafted from lustrous silk and shimmering metal-wrapped threads, border fragment measures an impressive 17½ by 41 inches, designed to adorn the edge of a sari—a traditional draped garment symbolizing elegance and status for women. Vibrant motifs of majestic elephants and blooming flowers evoke the natural splendor and royal symbolism prevalent in Persianate court culture, where elephants represented power and prosperity. Th...