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Textile with Musicians

13th century
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 457
The main decorative elements of this silk fragment are a row of large roundels enclosing two seated female musicians. Dressed in robes of patterned design, the figures are depicted playing tambourines. The lamp hanging between the figures suggests a luxurious interior setting. These large roundels are interlaced with a row of smaller ones containing stars. A rich shimmering effect is produced by the juxtaposition of the vivid reds and the lavish gold brocading.
Silk textiles produced in Muslim royal workshops (tiraz) were found in Christian lands in medieval Iberia, whether created for Christian patrons or cut and refashioned entirely for new uses, such as ecclesiastic vestments or church furnishings. This fragment along with 14 others belonged originally to the same textile, and were discovered between the pages of a 13th century manuscript in the cathedral of Vich in Spain.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Textile with Musicians
  • Date: 13th century
  • Geography: Attributed to Spain
  • Medium: Silk, gilt animal substrate around a silk core; lampas
  • Dimensions: Textile: L. 4 1/16 in. (10.3 cm)
    W. 4 1/4 in. (10.8 cm)
    Mount: H. 7 5/8 in. (19.4 cm)
    W. 7 5/8 in. (19.4 cm)
    D. 1 1/4 in. (3.2 cm)
  • Classification: Textiles-Woven
  • Credit Line: Rogers Fund, 1928
  • Object Number: 28.194
  • Curatorial Department: Islamic Art

More Artwork

More Artwork
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Textile Fragment, Silk; lampas
Textile Fragment
14th century
Textile Fragment from a Liturgical Vestment of San Valerius, Silk, metal wrapped thread; taqueté
Textile Fragment from a Liturgical Vestment of San Valerius
13th century
Oliphant, Ivory; carved, gilded silver and bronze mounts
Oliphant
12th–13th century
Pyxis with Painted Designs, Ivory; painted, gilded copper alloy mounts
Pyxis with Painted Designs
second half 12th–first half 13th century
Casket with Painted Roundels, Ivory, painted; gilded silver mounts with glass, quartz, and turquoise inlays
Casket with Painted Roundels
late 12th–early 13th century

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