Textile Fragment

Unknown

13th century · Silk, metal wrapped thread · Islamic Art

This rectangular silk textile fragment is decorated with two roundels within a vertical band surrounded by geometric patterning. The top roundel consists of a pearl border, containing two confronted birds flanking a plant or tree. The bottom roundel comprises a six-petalled flower within an eight-point star. Roundels containing animals are a historical near-eastern composition, dating centuries earlier, and a decorative pattern continued by Muslim craftsmen. The pearl –border encompassing the roundel at top is reminiscent of the Iranian Sasanian style. Depictions of animal forms within framing devices were also common decorative motifs in objects produced around the Mediterranean in the medieval period, and can be found ornamenting wood, textiles, ivory, metalwork and ceramics.

Artist

Unknown

Date

13th century

Medium

Silk, metal wrapped thread

Department

Islamic Art

Credit line

Gift of Mrs. Hayford Peirce, 1987