Textile Fragment
Unknown Artist
5th–6th century
Medium
Wool, linen; plain weave, brocaded (?)
Dimensions
Max. H. 10 11/16 in. (27.1 cm) Max. W. 6 1/8 in. (15.5 cm)
Classification
Textiles
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of George F. Baker, 1890
Accession Number
90.5.745
Art Historical Context
This delicate *Textile Fragment* from the th–6th century a glimpse into the sophisticated weaving traditions of the early medieval Near East or Mediterranean world. Crafted from wool and linen using plain weave with possible brocading—a technique where supplementary weft threads create raised patterns—the fragment measures just 10 11/16 by 6 1/8 inches (27.1 by 15.5 cm). Such small survivals highlight the fragility of textiles, which rarely endure due to their organic materials. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Department Islamic Art and gifted by George F. Baker in 1890, this piece...