Textile Fragment
Unknown Artist
4th–5th century
Medium
Wool, linen; plain weave, tapestry weave
Dimensions
Max. H. 18 3/8 in. (46.7 cm) Max. W. 6 11/16 in. (17 cm)
Classification
Textiles
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of George F. Baker, 1890
Accession Number
90.5.533
Art Historical Context
This delicate textile fragment, dating to the 4th–5th century, offers a glimpse into the sophisticated weaving traditions of late antiquity. Crafted from wool and linen using plain weave for the ground and tapestry weave for decorative elements, it measures just 18⅜ inches high by 6⅝ inches wide. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Department of Islamic Art and gifted by George F. Baker in1890, such fragments are precious survivors, as organic materials rarely endure from this era. The combination of plain weave—a simple, sturdy structure ideal for everyday textiles—and tapestry weave,...