Textile Fragment

Unknown Artist

early 19th century

Textile Fragment by Unknown Artist

Medium

Linen, silk; plain weave, embroidered

Classification

Textiles

Department

Islamic Art

Museum

Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY

Credit

Anonymous Gift, 1879

Accession Number

79.1.60a

Art Historical Context

This delicate *Textile Fragment* from the early 19th century exemplifies the exquisite craftsmanship of Islamic textile arts. Crafted from linen and silk using a plain weave foundation and intricate embroidery, it hails from a vibrant tradition where such fabrics adorned garments, furnishings, and ceremonial objects across the Islamic world—likely regions like the Ottoman Empire or Persia, where silk's luster symbolized luxury and status. The plain weave provided a sturdy, versatile base, allowing skilled artisans to layer fine embroidery with silk threads, creating patterns that might have f...

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