Textile Fragment

Art Historical Context

This delicate textile fragment, dating to 4th–5th century, offers a rare glimpse into the everyday artistry of Late Antique weaving traditions. Crafted from wool and linen in plain weave—a simple yet durable tabby where warp and weft threads interlace alternately—this small piece (just under 4 inches square) likely survived as a remnant of larger garments, furnishings, or ritual objects. Such fragments are precious artifacts, as organic textiles rarely endure the millennia. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Islamic Art Department, it reflects the sophisticated textile production of r...