Textile Fragment
Unknown Artist
3rd–4th century
Medium
Wool, linen; plain weave, tapestry weave
Dimensions
Max. H. 8 3/8 in. (21.2 cm) Max. W. 5 1/2 in. (14 cm)
Classification
Textiles
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Purchase by subscription, 1889
Accession Number
89.18.75
Art Historical Context
This delicate textile fragment, dating to the 3rd–4th century, offers a rare glimpse into the daily artistry of late antique societies in the Near East or Egypt, regions later central to Islamic culture. Acquired by the Metropolitan Museum of Art through subscription purchase in 188, it resides in the Islamic Art department, highlighting the continuity of textile traditions across epochs. Measuring just 8 3/8 by 5 1/2 inches, such small survivals underscore the fragility of ancient fabrics, often preserved in arid tombs or archaeological sites. Crafted from wool and linen using plain weave fo...