Textile Fragment
Unknown Artist
18th century
Medium
Silk, metal thread; brocaded, pieced
Dimensions
H. 14 1/2 in. (36.8 cm) W. 15 1/8 in. (38.4 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
2002.494.708
Art Historical Context
This exquisite *Textile Fragment* from the 18th century offers a glimpse into the opulent world of Islamic textile artistry. Crafted in the Department of Islamic Art The Metropolitan Museum of Art, piece measures 14½ by 15⅛ inches and exemplifies the luxurious materials favored in Ottoman, Persian, or Safavid workshops of the era. Silk, combined with shimmering metal threads, created garments, furnishings, and ceremonial objects that symbolized wealth and refinement among elites. The fragment's brocaded technique—where supplementary metal wefts are woven to form intricate patterns—highlights ...