Fragment (1600s-1700s): Art, History and Details

Fragment (1600s-1700s) is in the Cleveland Museum of Art collection.

The work and its context

The museum's open-access catalogue describes the work:

This textile fragment, possibly made from linen, is densely embroidered with silk threads in various shades of pink, red, yellow, and blue. The design is organized as a series of nested squared and some of the bands are patterned with repeating designs that somewhat resemble letters of the Arabic alphabet. The artist didn't use silk thread to make these, but instead stitched around the desired shapes. The letter-like patterns are thus actually parts of the plain base fabric showing through.

Object facts

• Title: Fragment
• Date: 1600s-1700s
• Culture: Africa, North Africa, Morocco, Moroccan embroiderer
• Type: Embroidery
• Technique: Silk, linen
• Dimensions: Average: 97.8 x 42.6 cm (38 1/2 x 16 3/4 in.)
• Collection: T - Islamic
• Department: Textiles
• Accession number: 1916.1236

Collection credit

Gift of Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Wade

View the collection record

See the museum's photographs and full catalogue entry. Catalogue text is reproduced from the Cleveland Museum of Art's open-access data, with HTML formatting removed. This object and its supplied image are designated CC0.