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Fragment, probably from a large hanging
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art. Free to download, adapt and use — no permission needed.
About this work
This fragment preserves the forepaws of what must have been a very large-scale lion. Beneath it is a bit of another motif which can no longer be identified. The ground is a soft grayish-blue, the design pale yellow and white, and the leaflike projections on the lower motif are aqua. The design is oriented in the warp direction. The technique is the usual tapestry weave with slit and dovetail joins. The weave is very fine; the wefts are tightly beaten up. There is limited use of eccentric weaving.
Cleveland Museum of Art’s own descriptionCredit lineFragment, probably from a large hanging, 900s–1000s. Iran or Iraq. Wool: tapestry weave; overall: 17.5 x 16 cm (6 7/8 x 6 5/16 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Gift of The Textile Arts Club, 1959.122