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Silk Velvet Designed by 'Ghiyath'

Ghiyath Iranian
second half 16th century
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 455
The beige satin background of this silk velvet panel was originally covered in shining metal threads, the remnants of which are still visible in some places. Luxurious textiles like this one were described by Europeans who traveled to the Safavid court. This piece bears the inscription "work of Ghiyath," referring to a designer who was attached to the Safavid court and served as a master weaver at the court of Shah 'Abbas I at Isfahan.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Silk Velvet Designed by 'Ghiyath'
  • Maker: Ghiyath (Iranian, Yazd, born ca. 1530)
  • Date: second half 16th century
  • Geography: Attributed to Iran
  • Medium: Silk, cut and voided velvet with continuous floats of flat metal thread
  • Dimensions: Textile: L. 25 3/4 in. (65.4 cm)
    W. 13 1/4 in. (33.7 cm)
    Mount: L. 30 in. (76.2 cm)
    W. 18 1/2 in. (47 cm)
  • Classification: Textiles
  • Credit Line: Purchase, Joseph Pulitzer Bequest, 1952
  • Object Number: 52.20.13
  • Curatorial Department: Islamic Art

More Artwork

More Artwork
Turban Helmet, Steel, iron, silver, copper alloy, Western Iranian, in the style of Turkman armor
Turban Helmet
Western Iranian, in the style of Turkman armor
late 15th century
Textile Fragment, Silk; cut and voided velvet with continuous floats of flat metal thread
Textile Fragment
ca. 1540
Mihrab (Prayer Niche), Mosaic of polychrome-glazed cut tiles on stonepaste body; set into mortar
Mihrab (Prayer Niche)
dated 755 AH/1354–55 CE
"Jonah and the Whale", Folio Probably from a Jami al-Tavarikh (Compendium of Chronicles), Ink, opaque watercolor, gold, and silver on paper
"Jonah and the Whale", Folio Probably from a Jami al-Tavarikh (Compendium of Chronicles)
ca. 1400
Velvet Fragment with Bird and Flower Design, Silk; cut and voided velvet, with continuous floats of flat metal thread
Velvet Fragment with Bird and Flower Design
second half 16th century

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