Eastern Art Online, Yousef Jameel Centre for Islamic and Asian Art

Ashmolean − Eastern Art Online, Yousef Jameel Centre for Islamic and Asian Art

Embroideries and Samplers from Islamic Egypt

A selection of 10th to 16th century embroideries from the Newberry collection at the Ashmolean by Marianne Ellis (published Oxford, 2001).

Embroideries and Samplers from Islamic Egypt by Marianne Ellis

Publications online: 66 objects

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Kerchief with bands of linked triangles

Location

    • currently in research collection

Objects are sometimes moved to a different location. Our object location data is usually updated on a monthly basis. Contact the Jameel Study Centre if you are planning to visit the museum to see a particular object on display, or would like to arrange an appointment to see an object in our reserve collections.

 

Publications online

  • Embroideries and Samplers from Islamic Egypt by Marianne Ellis

    Embroideries and Samplers from Islamic Egypt

    The embroidered bands on this linen square are worked in a double-sided stitch, reinforcing the impression that it is the equivalent of today's pocket handkerchief. At this period valued objects were wrapped in a sleeve kerchief, mandil kumm, and kept safe in the wide sleeves of garments which acted as pockets. According to a record saved from the Cairo Genizah hoard of documents, one sleeve kerchief was considered sufficiently important to be listed in the dowry of a bride who lived in mid-12th century Fustat (now in southern Cairo). Other references to sleeve kerchiefs make it clear that they were made for sale in the late 12th century; a record dated 1225 specifies that a sleeve kerchief sold in the bazaar of the clothiers was embroidered.
  • The Newberry Collection of Islamic Embroideries by Ruth Barnes and Marianne Ellis

    The Newberry Collection of Islamic Embroideries

    A virtually square cloth has narrow bands as borders; all bands have the same design of linked triangles worked in double running stitch, and fine cross stitch borders, but the colour of each alternates between medium and dark blue.

    All four sides have a rolled hem whipped with flax thread.
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Object information may not accurately reflect the actual contents of the original publication, since our online objects contain current information held in our collections database. Click on 'buy this publication' to purchase printed versions of our online publications, where available, or contact the Jameel Study Centre to arrange access to books on our collections that are now out of print.

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