Textile Fragment
Unknown Artist
3rd–4th century
Medium
Wool, linen; plain weave, tapestry weave
Dimensions
H. 9 3/4 in. (24.8 cm) W. 9 3/4 in. (24.8 cm)
Classification
Textiles
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Purchase by subscription, 1889
Accession Number
89.18.262
Art Historical Context
This charming *Textile Fragment* from the 3rd–4th offers a glimpse into the sophisticated world of Late Antique weaving, preserved in the Metropolitan Museum of's Islamic Art department. Dating to a time of cultural exchange across the Mediterranean and Near East—under Roman, Byzantine, and early Sassanian influences—this small square piece (9¾ × 9¾ inches) originated from Egypt or Syria, regions pivotal to the development of textile traditions that later flourished in Islamic art. Acquired through a subscription purchase in 1889, it exemplifies the Met's early commitment to collecting artifac...