Skip to Main Content

Striped tiraz

1049–50
plain weave with inwoven tapestry weave: linen and silk
Overall: 41 x 24.1 cm (16 1/8 x 9 1/2 in.); Mounted: 47 x 30.5 cm (18 1/2 x 12 in.)
John L. Severance Fund 1950.528
Location: not on view
You can copy, modify, and distribute this work, all without asking permission. Learn more about CMA's Open Access Initiative.

Download, Print and Share

Description

This rare striped, lightweight linen cloth was probably worn wrapped as a turban with the decorated end shown off in the front. The small birds in roundels appear to be mythological harpies with human faces. The Arabic text written with letters ending in fancy trefoils contains historical data, known as tiraz. The complete text generally includes Muslim blessings, the name of the ruler, and the place and date of manufacture. The lower line reads, "Help from Allah to the servant and friend of Allah, Ma’add Abu Tamin the Imam a[l-Mustansir bi-Allah]. . . ." The upper line reads, ". . . al-barakat al-Husayn bin al-Shaykh(?) ‘Imam al-Dawlah Muhammad bin [Ahmad]. . . ."
Striped tiraz

Striped tiraz

1049–50

Egypt, Fatimid period, reign of al-Mustansir

See Also

Visually Similar Artworks

Contact us

The information about this object, including provenance, may not be currently accurate. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@clevelandart.org.

To request more information about this object, study images, or bibliography, contact the Ingalls Library Reference Desk.

All images and data available through Open Access can be downloaded for free. For images not available through Open Access, a detail image, or any image with a color bar, request a digital file from Image Services.