Fragment of a shawl with inscription

Unknown

8th–9th century · Cotton; embroidered in wool · Islamic Art

In the medieval period, Yemen had a flourishing textile industry and both Umayyad and Abbasid caliphs established factories there. The large and prosperous city of Sana'a, to which this textile is attributed, was one of the most important centers of Yemeni textile production. The Arabic inscription under the lozenge-patterned band reads: "In the name of God. Blessing from God. Of what was made in the tiraz of Sana'a." The "tiraz of Sana'a" mentioned in the inscription refers to the workshop in which the textile was made, reflecting the convention of using the word (which literally means embroidery) to describe both textiles like this one and the workshops in which they were made.

Artist

Unknown

Date

8th–9th century

Medium

Cotton; embroidered in wool

Department

Islamic Art

Credit line

Gift of George D. Pratt, 1931