Textile Fragment
Unknown Artist
7th–8th century
Medium
Wool, linen; plain weave, tapestry weave
Dimensions
Max. H. 4 1/2 in. (11.5 cm) Max. W. 3 5/8 in. (9.2 cm)
Classification
Textiles
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of George F. Baker, 1890
Accession Number
90.5.580
Art Historical Context
This exquisite *Textile Fragment* from the 7th–8th century offers a glimpse into the vibrant of early Islamic artistry. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Islamic Department, this small piece—measuring just 4½ by 3⅝ inches—was crafted from wool and linen using plain weave for the foundation and tapestry weave decorative elements. Donated in 1890 by George. Baker, it survives as a precious remnant of a larger textile, likely used for clothing, furnishings, or ceremonial purposes during the formative centuries of Islamic culture under the Umayyad and early Abbasid caliphates. The interp...