Pearls of Wisdom: The Arts of Islam at the University of Michigan

The line of text written in deep ochre on a red ground repeats the Arabic word al-mulk, meaning power or kingdom. It is executed in tapestry, one of the more common techniques for producing tiraz textiles in medieval Egypt. The decorative program of this textile fragment is further enhanced with a dark blue and white repeating pattern of stylized tulips or lotus blossoms. The thickness of the tapestry weave makes the fabric more durable. For this reason, many tiraz textiles consist of tapestry-woven inscriptions stitched onto a lighter, plain cloth. Once the ground cloth wore out, the tapestry inscription could be cut out and sewn onto a new cloth, thus extending its life.

Bibliography: Blair 1998, 164–181; and Ettinghausen 1974.