The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of December 19, 2025

Fragment

before 1961

Iraq or Iran, in the style of the Buyid period

(945–1055)

Silk: lampas weave

Overall: 71.1 x 95 cm (28 x 37 3/8 in.)

Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund 1961.34

Location: Not on view

Description

The fragment preserves a tree of life flanked by a pair of large confronted simurghs, resembling peacocks, that grasp ibexes in their talons. A pair of small goats stand confronted and regardant at the base of the tree. Behind each ibex is a small palmette tree. The fragment constitutes the center third of a complete loom piece. The pattern is dark purplish brown on a golden brown ground.

Originally reported as having been found near Bibi Shahr Banu, near Rayy, Iran
?-1961
(Mme. Paul [Margurerite] Mallon [d. 1977], Paris, France, sold to the Cleveland Museum of Art)
1961-
The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
Lee, Sherman E. “Year in Review 1961.” The Bulletin of the Cleveland Museum of Art, vol. 48, no. 9, 1961, pp. 219–251. Mentioned: p. 251, no. 100; Reproduced: no. 100 25142473
The Cleveland Museum of Art. Handbook of the Cleveland Museum of Art/1966. Cleveland, OH: The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1966. Reproduced: p. 215 archive.org
The Cleveland Museum of Art. Handbook of the Cleveland Museum of Art/1969. Cleveland, OH: The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1969. Reproduced: p. 215 archive.org
Lemberg, Mechthild. 1973. “The Buyid Silks of the Abegg Foundation, Berne.” Bulletin du CIETA. Centre international d'étude des textiles anciens. No. 37 1973 – I. p. 11-54 p. 54, no. 1144
The Cleveland Museum of Art. Handbook of the Cleveland Museum of Art/1978. Cleveland, OH: The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1978. Reproduced: p. 272 archive.org
Year in Review (1961). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (November 1-26, 1961).
{{cite web|title=Fragment|url=false|author=|year=before 1961|access-date=19 December 2025|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1961.34