Textile Fragment
Unknown Artist
first half 16th century
Medium
Silk, metal wrapped thread; taqueté (seraser)
Dimensions
Textile: H. 17 7/8 in. (45.4 cm) W. 5 3/4 in. (14.6 cm)
Classification
Textiles-Brocades
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Purchase, Rogers Fund, Louis E. and Theresa S. Seley Purchase Fund for Islamic Art, and The Page and Otto Marx Jr. Foundation Gift, 2003
Accession Number
2003.519
Art Historical Context
This exquisite textile fragment, dating to the first half of the 16th century hails from the Islamic world and exemplifies the opulent brocade traditions of the era. Woven from luxurious silk yarns supplemented with metal-wrapped threads it measures just 17⅞ by 5¾ inches, yet its preserved vibrancy speaks volumes about the mastery of its unknown artisans. Acquired by The Metropolitan Museum of Art in2003 through generous funds, it now graces the Department of Islamic Art, offering a tangible link to a golden age of craftsmanship. The fragment's taqueté weave—specifically the seraser variant—r...