Lampas Fragment and Case
Although this textile has been identified as Seljuq, the very rounded cursive script of its inscription relates most closely to Il-Khanid tile inscriptions from the second half of the 13th century. Moreover, the use of roundels, while attested in Seljuq textiles, was equally popular under the Mongol Il-Khans. The depiction of the birds and palmettes is somewhat more simplified and stylized than those found on Seljuq textiles. This textile fragment, most likely from a robe, is decorated with a repeating pattern of a pair of addorsed regardant birds surrounded by an inscription band containing four iterations of the phrase "glory and dominion" in Arabic. The birds appear to be falcons, a symbol of power in the medieval eastern Islamic world. Following their conquests in Central Asia, Iran, and Iraq, the Mongol Il-Khans became very wealthy and developed a taste for silk garments that range from the most opulent and expensive cloths of gold to plain silk woven in various complex techniques.
Artwork Details
- Title: Lampas Fragment and Case
- Date: 11th–12th century
- Medium: Silk
- Dimensions: H. 46 5/16 in. (117.6 cm)
W. 9 1/8 in. (23.1 cm) - Classification: Textiles
- Credit Line: Purchase, Friends of Islamic Art Gifts, 2016
- Object Number: 2016.441
- Curatorial Department: Islamic Art
More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
14th century
13th century
11th century
13th century
12th century
Research Resources
The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please contact us using the form below. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.