Sleeve Fragment with a Band with Fish and Blossoms

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This sleeve fragment illustrates many of the characteristics associated with early Islamic textiles found in Egypt. Symmetrically arranged between two plain, dark bands, delicately colored fish, leaves, and buds form a lozenge pattern around a central rosette set within a gemmed roundel and a repeating pattern of stylized trees. The structured sprinkling of flora (generally buds and leaves) and fauna is referred to as a "scattered" motif. Like the weft-patterned, applied border, here with chevrons, the scattered motif became popular toward the end of the sixth and seventh centuries.

Sleeve Fragment with a Band with Fish and Blossoms, Tapestry weave in polychrome wool and undyed linen on plain-weave ground of undyed linen; applied weft-pattern band in wool and undyed linen

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