Cleveland Museum of Art

Silk with lattice of animals in medallions

Date

600s–800s

Medium

Silk: samite

Culture

Egypt or Syria

Department

Textiles

Institution

Cleveland Museum of Art

In this fragile silk, vines bearing heart-shaped florets form a diamond grid that displays different motifs in alternate rows. Pairs of ducks with ribbons flying behind their necks flank a palmette tree, showing Iranian influence, and alternate with two birds in lobed medallions. The patterns in such expensive silks were copied in less costly wool tapestry weave by Coptic weavers in Egypt.

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