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

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

Room 5 | Textiles gallery

Explore the beauty and variety of Eastern Art objects on display in the Textiles gallery.

Textiles gallery

Dressing the part

The Social Importance of Textiles

'Moreover thou shalt make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet: with cherubims of cunning work shalt thou make them.'

(Exodus, 26: 1)

The role of textiles goes far beyond a functional purpose. Dress and display fabrics are used to indicate status and rank. Patterns, techniques, and specific fibres can be associated with social, political or religious positions. They may be gender-specific or emphasise a cultural identity.

Textiles can separate sacred from profane space, and as priestly robes or bridal outfits they may emphasize a ceremonial role or state of transition.

In the past cloth making was a major industry generating wealth and prestige. Weavers’ guilds owned sumptuous houses, and in 15th-century Florence, a skilled weaver sometimes was paid more than a painter.

EA1965.84 EA1965.85 EA1984.123 EA1984.353 EA1984.479 EA1984.495 EAX.2144 EAX.223
Child's coat with dragons and wave pattern (EA1965.84) Child's coat with dragons and wave pattern (EA1965.84)   Child's suncoat with dragons and waves (EA1965.85) Child's suncoat with dragons and waves (EA1965.85)   Boy's cap with triangles and clusters (EA1984.123) Boy's cap with triangles and clusters (EA1984.123)
Child's tunic with bands of Y-shapes (EA1984.353) Child's tunic with bands of Y-shapes (EA1984.353)   Sampler fragment with chevrons, birds, and fish (EA1984.479) Sampler fragment with chevrons, birds, and fish (EA1984.479)   Sampler fragment with diamond-shapes and chevrons (EA1984.495) Sampler fragment with diamond-shapes and chevrons (EA1984.495)
Boy's coat with floral pattern (EAX.2144) Boy's coat with floral pattern (EAX.2144)   Child's tunic with flowers (EAX.2235) Child's tunic with flowers (EAX.2235)
Notice

Objects may have since been removed or replaced from a gallery. Click into an individual object record to confirm whether or not an object is currently on display. Our object location data is usually updated on a monthly basis, so contact the Jameel Study Centre if you are planning to visit the museum to see a particular Eastern Art object.

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