Textile Fragment
Unknown Artist
16th–17th century
Medium
silk, metal thread
Dimensions
H. 10 1/2 in. (26.7 cm) W. 8 1/2 in. (21.6 cm)
Classification
Textiles
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Nanette B. Kelekian, in honor of Olga Raggio, 2002
Accession Number
2002.494.669
Art Historical Context
This exquisite *Textile Fragment* from 16th–17th century offers a glimpse into the opulent world of Islamic textile artistry. Crafted from luxurious silk woven with shimmering metal threads—likely gold or silver lamé—the small piece (10½ × 8½ inches) survives as a testament to the masterful craftsmanship of the era. Such fragments often came from larger textiles like garments, turbans, or ceremonial hangings, prized for their intricate patterns and radiant surfaces that caught the light in palace halls or during festivals. In the Islamic world, particularly under the Ottoman Empire and Safavi...