Textile Fragment

Art Historical Context

This exquisite *Textile Fragment* from the 6th–7th century offers a tantalizing glimpse into the opulent world of early silk production. Crafted from silk in a possible double weave technique—a sophisticated method that interlaces two layers of fabric simultaneously for intricate, potentially reversible patterns—this narrow strip measures just 18½ inches long and a mere 13/16 inch wide. Adorned with motifs of birds, it exemplifies the fine textiles produced during a pivotal era bridging late antiquity and the dawn of Islam. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Department of Islamic Art,...