Velvet Fragment with Design from Nizami of Ganja's Khusrau and Shirin

16th century

Not on view

This delicately woven silk velvet depicts the love story "Khusrau and Shirin" by the Persian poet Nizami (d. 1209). The Sasanian king Khusrau has become smitten with the Armenian princess Shirin based on a portrait delivered to him at court. Impatient to see his future bride in person, he ventures from Iran to Armenia as she is simultaneously being brought to him, and the two unexpectedly cross paths while Shirin is bathing in a stream. Larger fragments of the same velvet retaining the full design repeat show Khusrau, in full Safavid courtier dress, seated on horseback looking on at Shirin in wonder. Except for a red cloth around her waist, Shirin's clothes hang from a nearby tree. The black silk used in the areas of Shirin's hair and the tree branches has oxidized, and only the foundation fabric remains.

Artwork Details

Overview

Provenance

References

Title: Velvet Fragment with Design from Nizami of Ganja's Khusrau and Shirin
Date: 16th century
Geography: Attributed to Iran
Medium: Silk; cut velvet
Dimensions: Textile: L. 15 3/8 in. (39 cm)
W. 6 1/2 in. (16.5 cm)
Mount: L. 20 in. (50.8 cm)
W. 11 1/2 in. (29.2 cm)
D. 3/4 in. (1.9 cm)
Wt. 4 lbs. (1.8 kg)
Classification: Textiles
Credit Line: Purchase, The Seley Foundation Inc., Schimmel Foundation Inc., Ruth Blumka and Charles D. Kelekian Gifts, and Rogers Fund, 1978
Object Number: 1978.60
Curatorial Department: Islamic Art

More Artwork

In the same medium

From the same time and place

A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.

The Emperor's Carpet, Silk (warp and weft), wool (pile); asymmetrically knotted pile — The Emperor's Carpet
second half 16th century

Velvet with Figural Imagery, Silk, metal wrapped thread; cut and voided velvet — Velvet with Figural Imagery
mid-16th century

Safavid Courtiers Leading Georgian Captives, Silk, metal wrapped thread; lampas — Safavid Courtiers Leading Georgian Captives
mid-16th century

The Anhalt Medallion Carpet, Cotton (warp), silk (weft), wool (pile); asymmetrically knotted pile — The Anhalt Medallion Carpet
probably first half 16th century

Silk Kashan Carpet, Silk (warp, weft and pile); asymmetrically knotted pile — Silk Kashan Carpet
16th century

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.