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Source Description
The folded edges on all four sides of this luxury silk fragment indicate that it decorated a unisex linen tunic. The symmetrical deer with suckling fawn flanking a simplified central tree of life continues an ancient theme in a naturalistic style. The roundel is connected on all four sides and displays heart-shaped floral borders. This fragment is said to have been found in Akhmim, Egypt, south of Cairo, where, during the 1880s, numerous related silk fragments were excavated.
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
125229
label
Square Ornament from a Tunic
core
obj
dtoType
object
pageCount
1
Source metadata
id
125229
contentType
object
title
Square Ornament from a Tunic
description
The folded edges on all four sides of this luxury silk fragment indicate that it decorated a unisex linen tunic. The symmetrical deer with suckling fawn flanking a simplified central tree of life continues an ancient theme in a naturalistic style. The roundel is connected on all four sides and displays heart-shaped floral borders. This fragment is said to have been found in Akhmim, Egypt, south of Cairo, where, during the 1880s, numerous related silk fragments were excavated.
date
700s
rights
CC0
rightsUri
CC0
language
en
wikidata
Q60758945
genreSpecific
Textile
imageCount
1
source
import
dimensionsRaw
Overall: 23.5 x 24.2 cm (9 1/4 x 9 1/2 in.); Mounted: 31.1 x 31.8 cm (12 1/4 x 12 1/2 in.)
cul
Egypt or Syria, Umayyad period (661–750) or Abbasid period (750–1258)
accession
1947.192
Source extras
tec
Silk; complementary weft-faced twill weave with inner warps (samite)
tombstone
Square Ornament from a Tunic, 700s. Egypt or Syria, Umayyad period (661–750) or Abbasid period (750–1258). Silk; complementary weft-faced twill weave with inner warps (samite); overall: 23.5 x 24.2 cm (9 1/4 x 9 1/2 in.); mounted: 31.1 x 31.8 cm (12 1/4 x 12 1/2 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund, 1947.192
collection
T - Islamic
didYouKnow
Seen as a prized decoration, designs like this were often cut out of older textiles and stitched onto unisex linen tunics.
citations
citation
Shepherd, Dorothy. "A Silk Fabric from Egypt." <em>The Bulletin of the Cleveland Museum of Art</em> 34, no. 8 (1947): 196-99.
url
www.jstor.org/stable/25141401
citation
The Cleveland Museum of Art. <em>The Cleveland Museum of Art Handbook.</em> Cleveland, OH: The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1958.
page_number
Mentioned and Reproduced: cat. no. 68
citation
Beckwith, John. Caskets from Cordoba. [Victoria and Albert Museum Publications, 1958-1960]. London: H.M. Stationery Office, 1960.
page_number
p. 26, fig. 28
citation
The Cleveland Museum of Art. <em>Handbook of the Cleveland Museum of Art/1966</em>. Cleveland, OH: The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1966.
page_number
Reproduced: p. 32
citation
The Cleveland Museum of Art. <em>Handbook of the Cleveland Museum of Art/1969</em>. Cleveland, OH: The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1969.
page_number
Reproduced: p. 32
citation
Held, Shirley E. Weaving: A Handbook for Fiber Craftsmen. New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1973.
page_number
p. 36, fig. 60
citation
The Cleveland Museum of Art. <em>Handbook of the Cleveland Museum of Art/1978</em>. Cleveland, OH: The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1978.
page_number
Reproduced: p. 41
citation
Keasbey, Doramay. Pattern Devices for Handweavers. Bethesda, MD (5031 Alta Vista Rd., Bethesda 20814): D. Keasbey, 1981.
page_number
p. 15, pl. 35
citation
Neils, Jenifer. "The Twain Shall Meet." <em>The Bulletin of the Cleveland Museum of Art</em> 72, no. 6 (1985): 326-59.
page_number
p. 358, no, 59
url
www.jstor.org/stable/25159914
creditline
Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund
updatedAt
2026-05-29 06:28:03.465000
sourceId
125229
dept
Textiles
coll
T - Islamic
med
Silk; complementary weft-faced twill weave with inner warps (samite)
thumbnail_url
image_url
Single page context
seq
1
pageIndex
0
type
photo
mediaId
bcb42bbbbe2a3fe7