Publication Date
905 AH 1500 AD
Publication Place
-
Metropolitan Museum of Art
Subject
Wool (weft, warp and pile), woven asymmetrically
Type
Other
Language
Undetermined
Digital
Yes
Manuscript
No
Physical Dimensions
البطانة : الطول : 896.6 سم ، العرض : 238.8 سم الأنبوب : الطول : 269.2 سم ،القطر : 25.4 سم
Library
Museum With No Frontiers
Library Asset ID
1.970.105
Record ID
object;EPM;us;Mus23;38;ar
Library Location
Metropolitan Museum of Art
Date
905 AH 1500 AD
Notes
The Simonetti carpet, named after its Italian owner in the 20th century, was woven in Cairo around the end of Mamluk rule or shortly after the Ottomans conquered the city in 1517. It uses dyes derived from red, blue, green, and yellow insects with little or no undyed white layer using S-spun wool, which is rarely found outside Egypt and refers to Mamluk production, although the exact date of production is unknown. The design of the five chambers makes this carpet the largest of its kind, and it is known for the dazzling visual effects it produces, such as jewel-toned color intensities, geometric shapes, and sparkling designs. Mamluk carpets bear images such as three-petaled flowers, cypress trees, and papyrus plants that resemble small umbrellas. Carpets like these are highly valued in Mediterranean trade and appear in Venetian paintings from the early 16th century.
Sample Text
“Simonetti Carpet” within Discover Islamic Art Collections. Museum Without Borders, 2026. https://islamicart.museumwnf.org/database_item.php?id=object;EPM;us;Mus23;38;ar
