Towel End
Unknown Artist
early 19th century
Medium
Linen, silk, metal wrapped thread; plain weave, embroidered
Dimensions
H. 18 in. (45.7 cm) W. 10 in. (25.4 cm)
Classification
Textiles-Embroidered
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Anonymous Gift, 1879
Accession Number
79.1.49
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite "Towel End" the early 19th exemplifies the refined artistry of Islamic textiles, likely crafted as a decorative border for a household towel. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's of Islamic Art, this piece measures 18 by 10 inches and entered the collection through an anonymous gift in 9. Its floral motifs, a hallmark of Islamic design, evoke the lush gardens of paradise—a recurring theme in the region's decorative arts, symbolizing beauty, fertility, and spiritual harmony. Woven in a plain weave of linen for durability, the towel end is richly embroidered with silk threa...