Textile Fragment
Unknown Artist
4th–5th century
Medium
Wool, linen; plain weave, tapestry weave (?)
Dimensions
Max. H. 4 9/16 in. (11.6 cm) Max. W. 1 3/4 in. (4.5 cm)
Classification
Textiles
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of George F. Baker, 1890
Accession Number
90.5.668
Art Historical Context
This delicate textile fragment, dating to the 4th–5th century, offers a glimpse into the everyday artistry of Late Antiquity in the Near East or Egypt. Crafted from wool and linen using plain weave—a simple, sturdy technique for everyday fabrics—along with possible tapestry weave elements, it measures just 4 9/16 x 1 3/4 inches, suggesting it is a surviving piece from a larger garment, curtain, or furnishing. Such small remnants are treasures, preserved through centuries and now housed in the Metropolitan Museum of's Department of Islamic Art, thanks a gift from George F. Baker in 1890. The u...