The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of July 4, 2022

Enthroned King Flanked by Griffins

prior to 1971

Iran or Iraq, in the style of the Abbasid period

(750–1258)

Silk: lampas weave

Overall: 46 x 78.7 cm (18 1/8 x 31 in.)

Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund 1971.24

Location

not on view

Description

This textile fragment preserves one complete and portions of 5 aligned roundels arranged in two rows (the top row fragmentary). Each roundel depicts an enthroned king flanked by crescents from his crown and griffins at his knees. Each king's robe and throne are ornamented with geometric patterns. Filling areas over the shoulders and at the feet of the king are stylized floral motifs outlined with pearls. The border is ornamented with stylized floral scroll. Interspaces contain an eight-pointed medallion.

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

Provenance
?-1971
(Nassiri Amini, Tehran, Iran, sold to the Cleveland Museum of Art)
1971-
The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
Citations
Lee, Sherman E. “The Year in Review for 1971.” The Bulletin of the Cleveland Museum of Art, vol. 59, no. 1, 1972, pp. 3–46. Mentioned: p. 45, no. 127 www.jstor.org
The Cleveland Museum of Art. Handbook of the Cleveland Museum of Art/1978. Cleveland, OH: The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1978. Reproduced: p. 271 archive.org
Blair, Sheila S., et al. “Reevaluating the Date of the ‘Buyid’ Silks by Epigraphic and Radiocarbon Analysis.” Ars Orientalis, vol. 22, 1992, pp. 1–41. This article provides an overview of the Buyid textile debate, but this specific textile is not referenced. www.jstor.org
Exhibition history

Year in Review: 1971. The Cleveland Museum of Art (organizer) (December 28, 1971-February 6, 1972).

Source URL: https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1971.24