Featured in HALI 209’s pick of the best rug and textile exhibitions and events around the globe, the current exhibition, ‘Spain, 1000–1200: Art at the Frontiers of Faith’ is open at The Met Cloisters, New York until 30 January 2022. Below we take a more detailed look at some of the medieval textiles on display:
This exhibition demonstrates how artists and patrons of the day negotiated different visual traditions at a time of complex interfaith interaction. Among works that testify to the diversity of Spanish medieval art is this 12th-century Camel, fresco, transferred to canvas pictured below.
Camel, Fresco transferred to canvas, Spain, 12th century, The Met, New York
This is a fragment of tiraz, a type of textile decorated with a band of text. Traditional tiara were woven in royal workshops and featured inscriptions that named the ruler. Over time, isolated single or paired bands multiplied into tiers of decoration, as pictured below. The inscription on this Egyptian woven fragment appears to read 'help from God.' While few examples of tiraz survive from medieval Spain, inscribed textiles were a very important component of Iberian production.
