Textile Fragment

Unknown

9th century · Linen and wool; tapestry-woven · Islamic Art

This linen fragment executed in a tapestry woven design and embroidery depicts an eagle in a roundel. An embroidered pattern of evenly spaced circles framed by linear bands in the ground color can be seen on both ends of the fabric. Only remnants remain of other polychrome tapestry decorations, perhaps of smaller motifs. Such textiles with designs in roundels were commonplace in the Near East and prototypes can be found in Sasanian Iran and Coptic Egypt. This fragment has been ascribed to the Tulunid period through its characteristic color palette of olive, blue, and brown.

Artist

Unknown

Date

9th century

Medium

Linen and wool; tapestry-woven

Department

Islamic Art

Credit line

Rogers Fund, 1974