Fragment with an Interlace Medallion and Bands

Unknown

3rd–6th century · Wool, linen; plain weave, tapestry weave · Islamic Art

Two bands with a scroll of heart-shaped leaves and two birds are paired with a large roundel. The medallion encloses a beautiful interlace within an eight-pointed star. Crosses circumscribed by circles fill the spaces between the star and the running wave border. The complex patterning is created using a decorative technique known as the flying shuttle or flying needle. Shuttles are devices in a loom for passing the horizontal (weft) threads through the spaces between the vertical (warp) threads. In this technique, the weaver made additional passes of the shuttle to create lines of ornament that do not follow the regular pattern of the weave. As seen here, the threads appear to lie on top of the weave.

Artist

Unknown

Date

3rd–6th century

Medium

Wool, linen; plain weave, tapestry weave

Department

Islamic Art

Credit line

Purchase by subscription, 1889