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Fragment
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art. Free to download, adapt and use — no permission needed.
About this 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.
Cleveland Museum of Art’s own descriptionCredit lineFragment, 1600s-1700s. Africa, North Africa, Morocco, Moroccan embroiderer. Silk, linen; average: 97.8 x 42.6 cm (38 1/2 x 16 3/4 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Wade, 1916.1236