Name of Object:Textile fragment Location:Cairo, Egypt Holding Museum:Museum of Islamic Art About Museum of Islamic Art, Cairo Date of Object:Hegira 193–8 / AD 809–13 Museum Inventory Number:3084 Material(s) / Technique(s):Linen, decorated with woven silk. Dimensions:Length 80 cm, width 18 cm Period / Dynasty:Abbasid Provenance:Fustat, Egypt. Description:This is a fragment from a shawl or turban made from fine linen and decorated with a wide band of delicately woven vegetal decoration in green, blue and yellow silk. In the lower portion of this band, is a line of inscription in kufic script woven in brown silk that reads: 'In the name of God, the Blessings of God on Abd Allah al-Amin Muhammad, Commander of the Faithful, may God grant him a long life, who has commissioned the production of this in the tiraz al-'amma […] Egypt at the hands of al-Fadl bin al-Rabi', a supporter of the Commander of the Faithful'.This is considered to be the oldest woven silk inscription on linen. In the Islamic-period a shawl or turban, such as the one from which this fragment comes, was usually decorated at both ends by a decorative band next to which was a band of inscription, and then a thin strip; the shawl or turban would have been finished with a fringe. View Short DescriptionThis fragment bears the name of the Abbasid Caliph al-Amin Muhammad and is considered to be the oldest woven silk inscription on linen. The Fatimids established many government textile factories called Tiraz. Some specialised in making textiles for the caliph and his court; others were allocated for the general public. Original Owner:Abbasid Caliph, Muhammad al-Amin How date and origin were established:The textile is dated based on the mention of the Abbasid caliph, Muhammad al-Amin and his follower al-Fadl ibn al-Rabi' in the inscription band which embellishes this textile fragment. How Object was obtained:This piece was bought in 1903, from an antiquities dealer, Paul Philip. How provenance was established:It is thought that Fustat is the most likely place of production in view of the fact that Egypt is mentioned as the place of manufacture in the inscription band. Selected bibliography:Baker, P. L., Islamic Textiles, London, 1995. Citation of this web page:Muhammad Abbas Muhammad Selim "Textile fragment" in Discover Islamic Art, Museum With No Frontiers, 2024. https://islamicart.museumwnf.org/database_item.php?id=object;ISL;eg;Mus01;49;en Prepared by: Muhammad Abbas Muhammad Selim
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