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Safavid Courtiers Leading Georgian Captives

mid-16th century
Not on view
This stunning textile is one of a group of thirteen bearing related scenes of Safavid courtiers and their captives—Georgian nobles, women, and children seized during four military campaigns between 1540 and 1553. Metal-wrapped thread was employed as an additional color in the palette. Now lost, it once embellished the captor’s shirt and horse in the top row and the costume of the captive in the middle and bottom rows.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Safavid Courtiers Leading Georgian Captives
  • Date: mid-16th century
  • Geography: Attributed to Iran
  • Medium: Silk, metal wrapped thread; lampas
  • Dimensions: Textile: L. 47 1/2 in. (120.7 cm)
    W. 26 1/2 in. (67.3 cm)
    Mount: L. 53 in. (134.6 cm)
    W. 32 1/8 in. (81.6 cm)
    D. 1 in. (2.5 cm)
    Wt. 31 lbs. (14.1 kg)
  • Classification: Textiles-Woven
  • Credit Line: Purchase, Joseph Pulitzer Bequest, 1952
  • Object Number: 52.20.12
  • Curatorial Department: Islamic Art

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The Emperor's Carpet, Silk (warp and weft), wool (pile); asymmetrically knotted pile
The Emperor's Carpet
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Kitab suwar al-kawakib al-thabita (Book of the Images of the Fixed Stars) of al-Sufi, `Abd al-Rahman al-Sufi Iranian, Ink and gold on paper; leather binding
Kitab suwar al-kawakib al-thabita (Book of the Images of the Fixed Stars) of al-Sufi
`Abd al-Rahman al-Sufi
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"The Feast of Sada", Folio 22v from the Shahnama (Book of Kings) of Shah Tahmasp, Abu'l Qasim Firdausi Iranian, Opaque watercolor, ink, silver, and gold on paper
"The Feast of Sada", Folio 22v from the Shahnama (Book of Kings) of Shah Tahmasp
Abu'l Qasim Firdausi
Sultan Muhammad
ca. 1525
"Isfandiyar's Third Course: He Slays a Dragon", Folio 434v from the Shahnama (Book of Kings) of Shah Tahmasp, Abu'l Qasim Firdausi Iranian, Opaque watercolor, ink, silver, and gold on paper
"Isfandiyar's Third Course: He Slays a Dragon", Folio 434v from the Shahnama (Book of Kings) of Shah Tahmasp
Abu'l Qasim Firdausi
Qasim ibn 'Ali
ca. 1530
Textile Fragment, Silk; lampas
Textile Fragment
first half 16th century

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