Textile Fragment
Unknown Artist
5th century
Medium
Wool, linen; plain weave, tapestry weave
Dimensions
Max. H. 4 3/16 in. (10.7 cm) Max. W. 3 3/4 in. (9.5 cm)
Classification
Textiles
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of George F. Baker, 1890
Accession Number
90.5.422
Art Historical Context
This delicate Textile Fragment, dating to the 5th century, offers a glimpse into the sophisticated textile traditions of the early Islamic world. Crafted from wool and linen using plain weave for the foundation and tapestry weave for decorative elements, it measures just 4 3/16 by 3 3/4 inches—likely a surviving piece from a larger garment, furnishing, or ritual object. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Islamic Department, it was generously gifted by George F. Baker in 1890. The use of tapestry weave, where colored weft threads are woven over the warp to create patterns without float...