{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O106594"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O106594/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AY3077/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AY3077/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AY3077","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006AG4290","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O106594/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O106594","accessionNumber":"T.399-1980","objectType":"Fragment","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"This fragment of a silk doublecloth was found in Rayy, a town near Tehran. Its original function is unknown. The design features large human-headed birds confronting each other in octagonal compartments. These in turn are placed on a complex diapered background which includes foliate crosses and hares. It is interesting that the designer has inverted the pattern partway along the length of the fabric.\r\n\r\nThe paired birds with female heads resemble the vicious harpies of classical mythology. Islamic ‘harpies’, however, have a more positive, protective function. The Arabic inscription that surrounds them confirms this with its good wishes for the owner.","physicalDescription":"Fragment of a silk doublecloth with large human-headed birds in octagonal compartments on a complex diapered background including foliate crosses and hares. The pattern, in undyed and dark brown, has been inverted partway along the length of the fabric. The hares or rabbits are arranged so that some face towards the two ends and some towards  the two sides of the textile.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"silk (textile)","id":"AAT243428"}],"techniques":[],"materialsAndTechniques":"Woven silk","categories":[{"text":"Textiles","id":"THES48885"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"MES","id":"THES48607"},"images":["2006AY3077","2006AG4290"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"42 (VA)","id":"THES49806"},"free":"","case":"1W","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Woven silk","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Iran","id":"x30220"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":"possibly"}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"900-1200","earliest":"0900-01-01","latest":"1200-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Length","value":"206","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"70","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"plus frame","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"Arabic inscriptions around harpies","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"Glory and good fortune and blessing and happiness and long-lasting peace and permanent felicity to the owner ... for as long as he may live.","transliteration":"","type":"","note":""}],"objectHistory":"Found in Rayy (near Tehran) in about 1925.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Fragment of a silk doublecloth, Iran, 900-1200","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Donald King, \"The Textiles Found Near Rayy About 1925,\" <u>Bulletin du Centre International d'Etude des Textiles Anciens</u> 65 (1987): 51-52."},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Sheila S. Blair, Jonathan M. Bloom and Anne E. Wardwell, \"Reevaluating the Date of the \"Buyid\" Silks by Epigraphic and Radiocarbon Analysis\" <u>Ars Orientalis</u>, 22 (1992)"}],"production":"One of a group of textiles long thought to be Buyid.","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"harpies","id":"x38532"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"Jameel Gallery \r\n\r\nSilk with Harpies\r\nIran\r\n900-1200\r\n\r\nThe paired birds with female heads resemble the vicious harpies of classical mythology. Islamic 'harpies', however, have a more positive, protective function. The Arabic inscription that surrounds them confirms this with its good wishes for the owner.\r\n\r\nSilk doublecloth\r\n\r\nMuseum no. T.399-1980","date":{"text":"Jameel Gallery","earliest":"2006-07-20","latest":null}}],"partNumbers":["T.399-1980"],"accessionNumberNum":"399","accessionNumberPrefix":"T","accessionYear":1980,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":["2019LP7511","2019LV7583"],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-05","recordCreationDate":"2004-10-20","availableToBook":false}}