Textile Fragment
Unknown Artist
4th century
Medium
Wool, linen; tapestry weave
Dimensions
Max. H. 6 7/8 in. (17.5 cm) Max. W. 5 1/2 in. (14 cm)
Classification
Textiles
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of George F. Baker, 1890
Accession Number
90.5.493
Art Historical Context
This delicate textile fragment, dating to the 4th century, offers a glimpse into the sophisticated weaving traditions of the late antique world. Crafted from wool and linen in a weave—a labor-intensive technique where colored weft threads are woven discontinuously to form patterns directly in the fabric—it measures just 6 7/8 by 5 1/2 inches. Such small survivals highlight the fragility of ancient textiles, which rarely endure due to their organic materials. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum Art's Department of Islamic Art and gifted by George F. Baker in 1890, this piece reflects the artisti...