Textile Fragment
Unknown Artist
5th century
Medium
Wool, linen; tapestry weave
Dimensions
Max. H. 11 13/16 in. (30 cm) Max. W. 4 1/8 in. (10.5 cm)
Classification
Textiles
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of George F. Baker, 1890
Accession Number
90.5.586
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite textile fragment, dating to the 5th, offers a glimpse into the vibrant of ancient Near Eastern artistry. Woven in tapestry technique from wool and linen, it measures just 11 13/16 by 4 1/8 inches, yet bursts with dynamic motifs of warriors brandishing shields and swords alongside fierce animals, likely lions. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Art Department—a gift from George F. Baker in 1890—this rare survivor captures the martial spirit of its era, possibly from regions like Egypt, Syria, or Persia under Sassanian influence. The tapestry weave, where colored weft yar...