Textile Fragment
Unknown Artist
5th century
Medium
Wool
Dimensions
Max. H. 15 3/4 in. (40 cm) Max. W. 10 7/16 in. (26.5 cm)
Classification
Textiles
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of George F. Baker, 1890
Accession Number
90.5.890
Art Historical Context
This delicate wool textile fragment, dating to the 5th, offers a rare glimpse into the artistry of early Islamic cultural regions. Measuring just 15¾ by 10⅜ inches (40 by 26.5 cm), it survives as a testament to the skilled weaving techniques of the era, when wool was a prized medium for its durability and versatility in garments, furnishings, and ceremonial objects. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Art Department, it was generously gifted by George F. Baker in 1890, preserving a piece that might otherwise have faded into obscurity. Textiles like this were central to daily life and t...