


Textile Fragment, 6th–7th century
Iraq or Syria
Silk
Iraq or Syria
Silk
L. 6 1/8 in. (15.5 cm), W. 6 3/8 in. (16.2 cm)
Charles Stewart Smith Memorial Fund, 1915 (15.109)
This two-toned silk fragment features circular and lobed medallions composed of pairs of birds. These medallions are framed within an overall lattice pattern composed of abstracted vines, scrolls, and leaves. Numerous examples of silks such as this have been found in the cemetery at Panopolis (Akhmim) in Egypt. Large sheets of the textile were cut and applied to unadorned tunics, allowing local elites to ornament their clothing with eye-catching patterns and colors.







