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Fragmentary Cenotaph Cover with Qur'anic Calligraphy

17th–18th century
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 460
This rectangular silk textile shows a design of chevron bands containing calligraphic inscriptions comprising verses of the Qur'an, invocations to God, and the shahada, or Muslim profession of faith ("There is no God but God, and Muhammad is his Messenger"). This type of textile covered important Ottoman tombs, and recalls the kiswa fabrics woven in similar designs, but of much larger scale, annually sent by the Ottoman sultans to adorn the Ka'ba in Mecca.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Fragmentary Cenotaph Cover with Qur'anic Calligraphy
  • Date: 17th–18th century
  • Geography: Attributed to Turkey
  • Medium: Silk; lampas
  • Dimensions: Textile: L. 38 1/4 in. (97.2 cm)
    W. 26 3/4 in. (67.9 cm)
    Mount: H. 42 1/16 in. (106.8 cm)
    W. 30 5/8 in. (77.8 cm)
    D. 1 3/8 in. (3.5 cm)
  • Classification: Textiles-Woven
  • Credit Line: The Friedsam Collection, Bequest of Michael Friedsam, 1931
  • Object Number: 32.100.460
  • Curatorial Department: Islamic Art

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