Textile Fragment

Unknown

13th century · Linen; block-printed and embroidered · Islamic Art

Dated to around the thirteenth century, this textile fragment remains as a small piece which would have formed a larger textile. The ornamentation of this fragment incorporates four block-printed ogival motifs which remain faintly outlined in black pigment. Two of these shapes are embroidered in black, indigo, and dark brown thread. Found in Egypt, the fragment’s embroidery and use of woven linen are characteristics of the type of textile production typically occurring in Egypt during this time. The block-printed ogival motifs emulate characteristics from the Western Indian tradition of textile production which commonly used block-printing as a method of design in contrast to the Egyptian weaving tradition.

Artist

Unknown

Date

13th century

Medium

Linen; block-printed and embroidered

Department

Islamic Art

Credit line

Purchase, V. Everit Macy Gift, 1930