Textile with Processions of Rams
Unknown Artist
5th–8th century
Medium
Silk samite
Dimensions
Before Conservation: Warp 19 7/8 in. (50.5 cm); Weft 15 9/16 in. (39.5 cm)
Classification
Textiles-Woven
Culture
Iran, Afghanistan or China (Xinjiang Autonomous Region)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Purchase, Friends of Asian Art Gifts, 2005
Accession Number
2005.134
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite silk samite textile, dating to the 5th–8th century, showcases processions of rams marching in rhythmic patterns, evoking ancient ceremonial grandeur. Measuring just under 20 by 16 inches before conservation, this woven fragment hails from the vibrant crossroads of Iran, Afghanistan, or China's Xinjiang Autonomous Region—likely a Silk Road hub where cultures intertwined. Now housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Art Department, it was acquired in 2005 through the generosity of the Friends of Asian. Crafted in silk samite, a luxurious compound twill weave prized for its shee...