Textile Fragment
Woven silk was an integral part of the Ottoman economy and an important trade item that yielded substantial revenue to the Ottoman treasury. It was also a sign of accumulated individual wealth and ranked alongside precious gems and metals as an indication of affluence. The choice of colors in this fragment is restricted to a blue ground with the pattern picked out in white, salmon pink, gold, and silver. The bold and forceful design of palmettes is softened by the graceful overlapping stem systems in the interstices. The palmettes, which form the heart of the ogival framework, are composed of three medallions: the innermost has a spiky outline with a tulip tree placed on a dotted ground, the middle one has a serrated edge anchoring an acanthus-type leaf facing the center, and the largest is decorated with palmette trees and a scalloped edge made of leaves.
Artwork Details
- Title: Textile Fragment
- Date: mid-16th century
- Geography: Made in Turkey, probably Istanbul
- Medium: Silk, metal wrapped thread; lampas (kemha)
- Dimensions: Textile: H. 24 in (61 cm)
W. 26 1/2 in (67.3 cm)
Mount: H. 28 5/8 in (72.7 cm)
W. 31 6/8 in (80.6 cm)
D. 7/8 in (2.2 cm) - Classification: Textiles-Woven
- Credit Line: Purchase, Joseph Pulitzer Bequest, 1952
- Object Number: 52.20.22
- 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.
ca. 1555–60
mid-16th century
Shah Quli
ca. 1540–50
ca. 1550–70
16th century
Related Content
Publications
Books, guides, and catalogues published by The Met.
Free to download
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 complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.