Textile Fragment

Object Name:: Fragment

Date:: mid-16th century

Geography:: Attributed to Iran

Medium:: Silk and metal-wrapped yarns; compound weave Satin and twill interconnected

Dimensions:: Textile: H. 9 1/4 in. (23.5 cm) W. 5 3/8 in. (13.7 cm) Mount: H. 12 7/8 in. (32.7 cm) W. 9 in. (22.9 cm) D. 1 3/8 in. (3.5 cm)

Classification:: Textiles-Woven

Credit Line:: Rogers Fund, 1909

Accession Number:: 09.225.1

Not on view

This textile fragment depicts a dramatic image of a dragon moving among jagged rocks. In its complete form, it originally would have also depicted a hunter aiming a large rock at the dragon. The dragon was a popular subject for miniature painters, upon whose illustrations textiles like this one were based. The design of this example is brilliantly conceived; a highly skilled artist must have designed the cartoon for this ferocious scene of the mythical monster.

[ Dikran G. Kelekian, New York, until 1909; sold to MMA]

Timelines
Iran, 1400–1600 A.D.

Department

Islamic Art (14,462)

Object Type / Material

Geographic Location

Date / Era

A.D. 1400–1600 (26,291)

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Date: first half 17th century Medium: Silk, cotton, flat metal thread; cut and voided velvet, brocaded Accession: 12.72.5 On view in:Gallery 462