The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of December 4, 2023

Fragment

before 1961

Iraq or Iran, in the style of the Buyid period

(945–1055)

Silk: lampas weave

Overall: 71.1 x 95 cm (28 x 37 3/8 in.)

Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund 1961.34

Location

not on view

Description

The fragment preserves a tree of life flanked by a pair of large confronted simurghs, resembling peacocks, that grasp ibexes in their talons. A pair of small goats stand confronted and regardant at the base of the tree. Behind each ibex is a small palmette tree. The fragment constitutes the center third of a complete loom piece. The pattern is dark purplish brown on a golden brown ground.

Provenance
Originally reported as having been found near Bibi Shahr Banu, near Rayy, Iran
?-1961
(Mme. Paul [Margurerite] Mallon [d. 1977], Paris, France, sold to the Cleveland Museum of Art)
1961-
The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
Citations
Lee, Sherman E. “Year in Review 1961.” The Bulletin of the Cleveland Museum of Art, vol. 48, no. 9, 1961, pp. 219–251. Mentioned: p. 251, no. 100; Reproduced: no. 100 www.jstor.org
The Cleveland Museum of Art. Handbook of the Cleveland Museum of Art/1966. Cleveland, OH: The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1966. Reproduced: p. 215 archive.org
The Cleveland Museum of Art. Handbook of the Cleveland Museum of Art/1969. Cleveland, OH: The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1969. Reproduced: p. 215 archive.org
Lemberg, Mechthild. 1973. “The Buyid Silks of the Abegg Foundation, Berne.” Bulletin du CIETA. Centre international d'étude des textiles anciens. No. 37 1973 – I. p. 11-54 p. 54, no. 1144
The Cleveland Museum of Art. Handbook of the Cleveland Museum of Art/1978. Cleveland, OH: The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1978. Reproduced: p. 272 archive.org
Exhibition history

Year in Review (1961). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (November 1-26, 1961).

Source URL: https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1961.34