Textile Fragment
Unknown Artist
4th century
Medium
Wool, linen; plain weave, tapestry weave
Dimensions
Max. H. 3 15/16 in. (10 cm) Max. W. 3 13/16 in. (9.7 cm)
Classification
Textiles
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Purchase by subscription, 1889
Accession Number
89.18.306
Tags
Art Historical Context
This delicate textile fragment, dating to the 4th, offers a rare glimpse into the artistry of late antiquity in the Near East. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Islamic Department, it measures just under 4 inches square and features woven human figures—a tag that hints at its figurative narrative, common in early textiles from regions like Egypt during Coptic period. Acquired through subscription purchase in 1889 it survives as a testament to the enduring craftsmanship of anonymous weavers. Crafted from wool and linen using plain weave for the foundation and tapestry weave for detail...