Artwork Page for Samite fragment with hunters

Details / Information for Samite fragment with hunters

Samite fragment with hunters

800s

Eastern Iran or Central Asia

Medium
Silk: compound twill
Measurements
Overall: 22 x 41.8 cm (8 11/16 x 16 7/16 in.); Mounted: 40 x 61 cm (15 3/4 x 24 in.)
Credit Line
Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund 1974.98
Public Domain
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Location
Not on view
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Description

This silk depicts pairs of horsemen hunting ibexes (mountain goats). The ibexes and two pairs of rabbits originally filled the spaces between rows of large floral roundels. Portions of the roundels are preserved at the top and bottom. Although the design was greatly influenced by silks from Egypt and Syria, the abstract style is typically Sogdian, from an area in Central Asia. This is one of many Sogdian silks that were traded to Europe and eventually preserved in church treasuries.
A horizontally oriented tan silk textile fragment features rows of repeating figures. Centrally, pairs of green horned animals face each other. To the right, two pairs of archers on yellow horses face one another with drawn bows. Smaller animals and fragments of blue geometric circular borders frame the top and bottom. The fabric has significant chunks missing along irregular, frayed edges, with horizontal weaving patterns visible against the muted, faded ground.

Samite fragment with hunters

800s

Eastern Iran or Central Asia

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