The Cleveland Museum of Art
Collection Online as of December 21, 2025
Fragment with tripartite band
1000s–1100s
Overall: 18.4 x 30.2 cm (7 1/4 x 11 7/8 in.)
John L. Severance Fund 1950.551
Location: Not on view
Did You Know?
Gold leaf was applied on mulham and decorated mostly likely with a stylus (pen) and ink drawing.Description
This three-part band consists of two opposing bands of inscriptions flanking an ornamental band of winged griffins within eight-pointed stars, separated by various creatures—a rabbit, a cheetah, and possibly a sphinx. The inscriptions in the band are in simple Kufic against a floriated background. They, as well as the single band of inscription above, repeat in various combinations as benedictions, "endurance and good fortune, blessing, peace." The patches forming the background are gold, the design is drawn in black, and the background of only one star is blue.This textile probably reflects the international fashion or may have been made for export to Egypt, where this fragment likely survived.
- ?–1950(Dr. Emil Delmar [1876–1959], Budapest, Hungary, and New York, NY, sold to the Cleveland Museum of Art)1950–The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
- Mackie, Louise W. Symbols of Power: Luxury Textiles from Islamic Lands, 7th-21st Century. Cleveland; New Haven: Cleveland Museum of Art; Yale University Press, 2015. Reproduced: P. 160, fig. 4.33; Mentioned: P. 158
- {{cite web|title=Fragment with tripartite band|url=false|author=|year=1000s–1100s|access-date=21 December 2025|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}
Source URL:
https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1950.551