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Textile Fragment

ca. 1540
Not on view
This fragment from a royal tent, produced during the reign of the Safavid ruler Shah Tahmasp, displays qualities typical of textiles from this period. Densely woven silk threads form the warp and weft of cut and voided velvet, and supplementary metal threads create a shimmering effect. The central peony of the design is surrounded by ogival palmettes, spotted ribbons, lotus flowers, tulips, and rosettes. Owned by the Sangusko family of Poland until 1920, this and other fragments from the tent may have been brought to Eastern Europe in 1683, following the defeat of Ottoman troops in the Battle of Vienna.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Textile Fragment
  • Date: ca. 1540
  • Geography: Attributed to Iran
  • Medium: Silk; cut and voided velvet with continuous floats of flat metal thread
  • Dimensions: Textile: L. 40 in. (101.6 cm)
    W. 17 in. (43.2 cm)
    Mount: H. 45 in. (114.3 cm)
    W. 22 1/2 in. (57.2 cm)
    D. 3/4 in. (1.9 cm)
  • Classification: Textiles
  • Credit Line: Gift of V. Everit Macy, 1927
  • Object Number: 27.51.2
  • Curatorial Department: Islamic Art

More Artwork

More Artwork
Textile Fragment, Silk; cut and voided velvet with continuous floats of flat metal thread
Textile Fragment
ca. 1540
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
Velvet with Figural Imagery, Silk, metal wrapped thread; cut and voided velvet
Velvet with Figural Imagery
mid-16th century
Silk Velvet Designed by 'Ghiyath', Ghiyath Iranian, Silk, cut and voided velvet with continuous floats of flat metal thread
Silk Velvet Designed by 'Ghiyath'
Ghiyath
second half 16th century
Kitab suwar al-kawakib al-thabita (Book of the Images of the Fixed Stars) of al-Sufi, `Abd al-Rahman al-Sufi Iranian, Ink and gold on paper; leather binding
Kitab suwar al-kawakib al-thabita (Book of the Images of the Fixed Stars) of al-Sufi
Author `Abd al-Rahman al-Sufi
late 15th century

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