Textile Fragment

Art Historical Context

This delicate textile fragment, dating to the 3rd–4th century, offers a glimpse into the sophisticated weaving traditions of the ancient Near East or Egypt, regions later central to Islamic art. Crafted from wool and linen plain weave for the foundation and tapestry weave for decorative elements, it exemplifies early techniques that bridged late Roman, Byzantine, and pre-Islamic cultures. Acquired by the Metropolitan Museum of Art subscription purchase in 1889, this small piece—measuring just over 10 inches high and 9 inches wide—survives as a precious survivor from antiquity, likely from a ga...