Textile Fragment

Art Historical Context

This delicate *Textile Fragment*, crafted from embroidered wool in the 8th–9th century, a tantalizing glimpse into early Islamic artistry. Measuring just 2½ by 9½ inches, it survives as a precious remnant, likely from a larger garment, furnishing, or ceremonial object. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Islamic Department—acquired through the Rogers Fund in 5—it exemplifies the exquisite craftsmanship of the Abbasid era, when textiles flourished as symbols of wealth, piety, and cultural exchange across the Islamic world. Embroidered with wool threads, the fragment highlights a labor-i...