Art Institute of Chicago

Fragment

Egypt

Date

Fatimid period (969–1171), late 11th/early 12th century

Medium

Silk, tapestry weave

Culture

Egypt

Department

Textiles

Institution

Art Institute of Chicago

In early and medieval times (from the late 7th century to about 1200), throughout the Islamic world, state-owned factories produced textiles both for use at court and for commercial sale. Known as tiraz (after the word for embroidery, suggesting the original technique), these textiles were intended as furnishing fabrics or robes, to be conferred as royal gifts. early examples were decorated with narrow bands of ornament and inscriptions that often included the name of the patron and the location of the factory. Later examples tend to be more decorative.

The authoritative record is held by Art Institute of Chicago. LinkedCulture surfaces this object and its connections; it does not alter institutional metadata.