Order for Veils or Handkerchiefs

8th 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.

Ostraka (pottery or stone fragments with writing) and papyri aid in understanding aspects of textile production in Egypt. Kalim, a weaver, writes to his client ‘Abd Allah ibn As‘ad, a merchant, regarding the progress on his order for veils. The text is in Arabic and the prices are given in dinars, evidence of the increasing control over commerce by the new Muslim rulers of the region.

Artwork Details

Overview

Signatures, Inscriptions, and Markings

Exhibition History

Title: Order for Veils or Handkerchiefs
Date: 8th century
Geography: Made in Egypt
Medium: Black ink on papyrus
Dimensions: 9 1/2 x 7 11/16 in. (24.2 x 19.5 cm)
Classification: Papyrus
Credit Line: Papyrus Collection, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor (P.Mich.inv. 5621)
Curatorial Department: Medieval Art and The Cloisters