Fragment with Inscription

early 900s

Iran, style of the Abbasid period (750–1258) or Buyid period

(945–1055)

Medium

Silk: lampas weave

Measurements

Overall: 78.7 x 90.2 cm (31 x 35 1/2 in.)

Credit Line

Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund 1982.24

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Location

Not on view

Description

This fragment preserves a large-scale octagon enclosing a pair of peacocks which stand on recumbent griffins and flank a palmette tree. The inner edges of the octagon contain an inscription blessing its owner. The outer edges of the octagon are ornamented with abstract leaves. In the interspaces between octagons are floral roundels, each containing four birds; from the top, bottom, and sides of each roundel spring palmette trees, of which the top and bottom are flanked by birds.

According to recent analysis of the museum’s Buyid textile materials, some have been identified as modern reproductions.