Textile Fragment
Unknown Artist
17th century
Medium
Silk, metal thread
Dimensions
H. 5 3/8 in. (13.7 cm) W. 8 1/4 in. (21 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
2002.494.724
Art Historical Context
This delicate textile fragment, dating to the 17th, hails from the Islamic world and showcases the era's masterful weaving traditions. Crafted from shimmering silk woven with luxurious metal threads—likely gold or silver— compact size (5 3/8 x 8 1/4 inches) suggests it once part of a larger garment, turban, or ceremonial hanging. Such fragments, preserved in museum collections like the Metropolitan Museum Art's Islamic Art department, offer a glimpse into the refined artistry of regions like the Ottoman Empire or Safavid Persia, where textiles were symbols of prestige and piety. The use of me...