Tiraz Fragment

10th century

Not on view

This linen fabric is inscribed with a repeating inscription, al-Mulk L’illah, “Sovereignty is Allah’s”, block printed in a black outline, which was then gilded. The kufic script employed is a simple geometric one, except for the floriated flourish in the last letter of al-Mulk. The simple fabric and technique employed, as well as the lack of a name implies that this fabric was produced for general sale in a market. Many such fabrics were eventually found in a burial context, as their inscriptions were believed to convey baraka (blessing) through the sustained contact between the deceased and the textile.

Artwork Details

Overview

Signatures, Inscriptions, and Markings

Provenance

Title: Tiraz Fragment
Date: 10th century
Geography: Attributed to Egypt
Medium: Linen, gold leaf, black ink; plain weave, block printed
Dimensions: Textile:
H. 7 in. (17.8 cm)
W. 14 1/8 in.. (35.9 cm)
Mount:
H. 11 1/4 in. (28.6 cm)
W. 18 3/8 in. (46.7 cm)
D. 1 1/4 in. (3.2 cm)
Classification: Textiles-Painted and/or Printed
Credit Line: Rogers Fund, 1948
Object Number: 48.70
Curatorial Department: Islamic Art

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