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Inscribed Floor Mat

10th century

Not on view

This well-preserved monumental loom-woven reed floor mat may have been used in a domestic setting or as a sijadat salah (prayer rug). The inscriptions state, "Perfect blessing, absolute wellbeing, and constant happiness to the owner, this that was commissioned from the private workshop of Tabariya." Tiberias (Tabariya), located in a reed-growing area, was famous for its weaving workshops.

Inscribed Floor Mat, Plain weave in undyed bast fiber; inscription and decoration in brocading weft; fringe along one edge — This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Title: Inscribed Floor Mat

Date: 10th century

Geography: Made in Israel, Tiberias

Medium: Plain weave in undyed bast fiber; inscription and decoration in brocading weft; fringe along one edge

Dimensions: 87 13/16 x 45 1/4 in. (223 x 115 cm)

Classification: Textiles

Credit Line: Benaki Museum, Athens (14735)

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Medieval Art and The Cloisters at The Met

The Museum's collection of medieval and Byzantine art is among the most comprehensive in the world, encompassing the art of the Mediterranean and Europe from the fall of Rome to the beginning of the Renaissance.