Textile Fragment
Unknown Artist
3rd–4th century
Medium
Linen, wool
Dimensions
Max. H. 45 in. (114.3 cm) Max. W. 42 1/2 in. (108 cm)
Classification
Textiles
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of George F. Baker, 1890
Accession Number
90.5.911
Art Historical Context
This captivating *Textile Fragment* from the 3rd–4th century, woven from linen and wool, measures an impressive maximum of 45 by 42½ inches, making it a substantial survivor from antiquity. Now treasured in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Department of Islamic Art, it entered the collection as a gift from George F. Baker in 1890. Such large fragments are rare, as organic materials like these fibers typically perish over time, offering museum visitors a tangible window into a world of skilled handcraft. In the Late Antique period, linen—prized for its fine texture and breathability—was often ...