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One of a pair, this curtain displays colorful silk bands with woven geometric motifs, and cream bands with gold-embroidered plants, birds, six-pointed stars, and the <em>khamsah</em> (خمسة), an open five-fingered hand. Birds and the tree of life were popular good luck or fertility symbols linked to marriage. This curtain’s cosmopolitan motifs would have resonated with Jews, Muslims, and Christians alike, reflecting its creation on multiethnic and multireligious Djerba, an island off the Tunisian coast. There, both goldsmithing and gold thread embroidery were done by Jewish artisans (male and female, respectively). The fine materials suggest this curtain once hung in a wealthy home or for special occasions; interior wall hangings were typically made from rough wool.

Page data

Page
1
Source index
0
Type
photo
Media ID
4a78c5c4b543a5c9
Size
unknown

Document data

ID
95653
Core
obj
Type
object
DTO data
{
    "id": "95653",
    "contentType": "object",
    "title": "Curtain (one of a pair)",
    "description": "One of a pair, this curtain displays colorful silk bands with woven geometric motifs, and cream bands with gold-embroidered plants, birds, six-pointed stars, and the <em>khamsah</em> (خمسة), an open five-fingered hand. Birds and the tree of life were popular good luck or fertility symbols linked to marriage. This curtain’s cosmopolitan motifs would have resonated with Jews, Muslims, and Christians alike, reflecting its creation on multiethnic and multireligious Djerba, an island off the Tunisian coast. There, both goldsmithing and gold thread embroidery were done by Jewish artisans (male and female, respectively). The fine materials suggest this curtain once hung in a wealthy home or for special occasions; interior wall hangings were typically made from rough wool.",
    "date": "1600s–1700s",
    "citation": "https://clevelandart.org/art/1916.1361.b",
    "rights": "CC0",
    "rightsUri": "CC0",
    "language": "en",
    "wikidata": [
        "Q79477581"
    ],
    "genreSpecific": [
        "Embroidery"
    ],
    "iiifBase": "https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1916.1361.b/1916.1361.b_web.jpg",
    "thumbnailUrl": "https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1916.1361.b/1916.1361.b_web.jpg",
    "largeImageUrl": "https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1916.1361.b/1916.1361.b_web.jpg",
    "imageCount": 1,
    "source": "import",
    "dimensionsRaw": "Overall: 276.8 x 136.7 cm (109 x 53 13/16 in.)",
    "cul": [
        "Africa, North Africa, Tunisia, Djerba, Tunisian weaver(s) and embroiderer(s)"
    ],
    "accession": "1916.1361.b"
}

Context sent to Scholar

Document identity
{
    "localId": "95653",
    "label": "Curtain (one of a pair)",
    "core": "obj",
    "dtoType": "object"
}
Document source metadata
{
    "id": "95653",
    "contentType": "object",
    "title": "Curtain (one of a pair)",
    "description": "One of a pair, this curtain displays colorful silk bands with woven geometric motifs, and cream bands with gold-embroidered plants, birds, six-pointed stars, and the <em>khamsah</em> (خمسة), an open five-fingered hand. Birds and the tree of life were popular good luck or fertility symbols linked to marriage. This curtain’s cosmopolitan motifs would have resonated with Jews, Muslims, and Christians alike, reflecting its creation on multiethnic and multireligious Djerba, an island off the Tunisian coast. There, both goldsmithing and gold thread embroidery were done by Jewish artisans (male and female, respectively). The fine materials suggest this curtain once hung in a wealthy home or for special occasions; interior wall hangings were typically made from rough wool.",
    "date": "1600s–1700s",
    "citation": "https://clevelandart.org/art/1916.1361.b",
    "rights": "CC0",
    "rightsUri": "CC0",
    "language": "en",
    "wikidata": [
        "Q79477581"
    ],
    "genreSpecific": [
        "Embroidery"
    ],
    "iiifBase": "https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1916.1361.b/1916.1361.b_web.jpg",
    "thumbnailUrl": "https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1916.1361.b/1916.1361.b_web.jpg",
    "largeImageUrl": "https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1916.1361.b/1916.1361.b_web.jpg",
    "imageCount": 1,
    "source": "import",
    "dimensionsRaw": "Overall: 276.8 x 136.7 cm (109 x 53 13/16 in.)",
    "cul": [
        "Africa, North Africa, Tunisia, Djerba, Tunisian weaver(s) and embroiderer(s)"
    ],
    "accession": "1916.1361.b"
}
Document source extras
{
    "tec": "Silk, linen, metal, and dye",
    "tombstone": "Curtain (one of a pair), 1600s–1700s. Africa, North Africa, Tunisia, Djerba, Tunisian weaver(s) and embroiderer(s). Silk, linen, metal, and dye; overall: 276.8 x 136.7 cm (109 x 53 13/16 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Wade, 1916.1361.b",
    "collection": "T - Islamic",
    "didYouKnow": "When first acquired over a century ago, this curtain had fringe at its lower end.",
    "url": "https://clevelandart.org/art/1916.1361.b",
    "creditline": "Gift of Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Wade",
    "updatedAt": "2026-05-29 05:08:22.695000",
    "imageUrl": "https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1916.1361.b/1916.1361.b_print.jpg",
    "sourceId": 95653,
    "dept": "Textiles",
    "coll": "T - Islamic",
    "med": "Silk, linen, metal, and dye",
    "thumbnail_url": null,
    "image_url": null
}
Page context
{
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    "type": "photo",
    "url": "https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1916.1361.b/1916.1361.b_web.jpg",
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