Textile Fragment with Inscription

Unknown

10th–11th century · Cotton, gold, ink; plain weave, painted · Islamic Art

Only the inscribed portion of this textile has survived. The kufic script and the interlaced border framing the inscription have been stamped in gold and outlined in red. The benedictory phrase is commonly found on objects throughout the Islamic world, often with the name of the recipient, as is the case here. Nothing is known about the owner, Abu ‘Abdallah ibn Nasr, but he probably belonged to the middle-class to afford such a personalized object. The shape and small size of the inscription may indicate that the fragment was originally part of a handkerchief.

Artist

Unknown

Date

10th–11th century

Medium

Cotton, gold, ink; plain weave, painted

Department

Islamic Art

Credit line

Rogers Fund, 1932