Textile Fragment
Unknown Artist
late 17th century
Medium
Silk
Dimensions
H. 5 in. (12.7 cm) W. 15 in. (38.1 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
2002.494.739
Art Historical Context
This delicate silk textile fragment, dating to the late 17 century, offers a tantalizing glimpse into the opulent world of Islamic art. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Department Islamic Art, it measures just 5 by 15 inches, suggesting it is a surviving piece from a larger garment, curtain, or ceremonial object. During this era, Islamic artisans across regions like the Ottoman Empire and Safavid Persia in textile production, creating luxurious fabrics that symbolized wealth, status, and craftsmanship. Crafted from silk—a medium highly prized for its luster, durability, and associat...