Textile Fragment
Unknown Artist
5th–6th century
Medium
Wool, linen; plain weave, tapestry weave
Dimensions
Max. H. 7 5/16 in. (18.5 cm) Max. W. 6 15/16 in. (17.7 cm)
Classification
Textiles
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of George F. Baker, 1890
Accession Number
90.5.599
Art Historical Context
This delicate Textile Fragment, dating to the 5–6th century, a glimpse into the sophisticated textile traditions of the late antique world, preserved in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Department of Islamic Art. Craft from wool and linen using plain weave and tapestry techniques, it measures just 7 5/16 by 6 15/16 inches, suggesting it is a surviving piece from a larger garment, furnishing, or ceremonial object. Such fragments highlight the era's vibrant trade networks across the Mediterranean and Near East, where textiles served as symbols of wealth, identity, and cultural exchange. The com...