Embroidered border and field of animals in large roundels

1000s–1100s

Iraq, probably Baghdad, Seljuk period

Medium

plain weave: silk warp and cotton weft (mulham): plain weave; silk and gold thread: embroidery, couched, split, running, and outline stitches:

Measurements

Overall: 26.7 x 12.4 cm (10 1/2 x 4 7/8 in.)

Credit Line

Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund 1952.257

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Location

Not on view

Did You Know?

Another fragment of this textile, lavishly embroidered with gilt-metal and silk thread on mulham, is now in the collection of the MFA Boston, 37.103.

Description

This fragment preserves part of the main field and border of a large textile. At the top is a small segment of a roundel frame with fragments of a pair of confronted animals; at the lower right is part of a smaller roundel in which only the hind part of a lion or griffin remains. Below the roundels is a section of a wide border with a large bird wearing Sasanian flying ribbons about its neck. It is framed in a roundel formed by the tendrils of a scrolling vine. A narrow band at the bottom has a badly garbled Kufic inscription, which is upside down in relation to the rest of the pattern. Only the word "Allah" repeated twice can be deciphered.