Ikat Fragment

mid-11th century

Not on view

Different regions, even different towns within the same region, specialized in distinctive textile products. Yemen was well known for a fabric with characteristic irregular stripes, known as ikat, which weavers in Egypt learned to imitate during the Fatimid period. This ikat textile, attributed to Egypt, bears bands of ornamental inscription flanking a central row of star‑shaped cartouches enclosing palmettes which alternate with ovoid cartouches containing griffins, all tapestry‑woven into the Yemeni‑style matrix.

Artwork Details

Title: Ikat Fragment
Date: mid-11th century
Geography: Found Egypt, Fustat
Medium: Linen, silk; resist dyed (ikat), plain weave, tapestry weave
Dimensions: Textile: L. 9 1/2 in. (24.1 cm)
W. 17 in. (43.2 cm)
Mount: L. 15 3/8 in. (39.1 cm)
W. 22 in. (55.9 cm)
Wt. 8 lbs. (3.6 kg)
Classification: Textiles-Woven
Credit Line: Rogers Fund, 1927
Object Number: 27.170.28
Curatorial Department: Islamic Art

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