Inscribed Floor Mat

10th century

Not on view

Returned to lender

This work of art was on loan to the museum and has since been returned to its lender.

This well-preserved monumental loom-woven reed floor mat may have been used in a domestic setting or as a sijadat salah (prayer rug). The inscriptions state, "Perfect blessing, absolute wellbeing, and constant happiness to the owner, this that was commissioned from the private workshop of Tabariya." Tiberias (Tabariya), located in a reed-growing area, was famous for its weaving workshops.

Artwork Details

Overview

Signatures, Inscriptions, and Markings

Exhibition History

Title: Inscribed Floor Mat
Date: 10th century
Geography: Made in Israel, Tiberias
Medium: Plain weave in undyed bast fiber; inscription and decoration in brocading weft; fringe along one edge
Dimensions: 87 13/16 x 45 1/4 in. (223 x 115 cm)
Classification: Textiles
Credit Line: Benaki Museum, Athens (14735)
Curatorial Department: Medieval Art and The Cloisters