Textile Fragment
Unknown Artist
3rd–4th century
Medium
Wool, linen; plain weave, tapestry weave
Dimensions
H. 11 5/8 in. (29.5 cm) W. 7 1/16 in. (18 cm)
Classification
Textiles
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Purchase by subscription, 1889
Accession Number
89.18.72
Art Historical Context
This delicate *Textile Fragment*, dating to the 3rd–4th century, offers a window into the sophisticated world of early textile production in the regions associated with Islamic art traditions. Crafted from wool linen, it measures just 11⅝ × 7¹/₁₆ inches (29.5 × 18 cm), yet exemplifies the durability and artistry of ancient weaving. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum Art's Islamic Art department its purchase by subscription in 1889 it survives as a testament to everyday craftsmanship from late antiquity. The fragment employs a combination of plain weave—a simple, balanced interlacing of warp an...