2-722-736 - Heritage Art/Heritage Images

Alhambra hanging fragment with decorated bands, 1300s. The ability to combine different designs and colours harmoniously was one of the unparalleled achievements of Islamic art. This silk curtain fragment reveals juxtapositions of large and small scaled designs with curving and angular lines, all woven with bold colours in bands of varying widths. The contrasts are featured in the upper design of large squares positioned to form eight-pointed stars, in the narrow band with ivory-silk cursive script offering "good fortune and prosperity," and in the wide band with large yellow-silk kufic script extending "beatitude." A rare, complete contemporary silk curtain in the museum's collection (see photo) displays another method of organizing designs.