Textile Fragment with Addorsed Parrots and Griffins
Unknown Artist
early 13th century
Medium
Silk; lampas
Dimensions
Textile: H. 11 3/4 in. (29.8 cm) W. 14 3/4 in. (37.5 cm) Mount: H. 15 3/4 in. (40 cm) W. 19 in. (48.3 cm) D. 1 1/2 in. (3.8 cm)
Classification
Textiles-Woven
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1908
Accession Number
08.109.1b
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite textile fragment, dating to the early 13th century, showcases the masterful weaving traditions of the Islamic world. Titled *Textile Fragment with Added Parrots and Griff*, it features pairs of parrots and mythical griffins facing back-to (addorsed) amid intricate patterns. Crafted from luxurious silk using the lampas technique—a complex weave with a patterned satin ground and supplementary warps—this 11¾ × 14¾-inch piece (29.8 × 37.5 cm) was likely part of a larger garment, hanging, or furnishing, highlighting silk's status as a high-value trade good along medieval Silk Road ro...