{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O179205"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O179205/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2019MF6652/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2019MF6652/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2019MF6652","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2019MF6711","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O179205/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O179205","accessionNumber":"T.113-1932","objectType":"Kiswah","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"This textile is part of the kiswah, the black silk cloth that traditionally covers the Kaaba in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. The Kaaba, a cube-shaped building, is considered the most sacred site in Islam. The kiswah is embroidered or brocaded with inscriptions from the Qu'ran, the Islamic holy book.\r\n\r\nEach year, many Muslims make pilgrimage (<i>hajj</i>) to Mecca and the Kaaba. The <i>hajj</i> takes place during Dhu al-Hijah, the twelfth month of the Islamic calendar. At this time, the kiswah is replaced with a fresh cloth, and the old kiswah cut up. The pieces of the removed kiswah are currently distributed amongst visiting foreign Muslim dignitaries and organisations. Earlier kiswah pieces were distributed amongst the <i>hajj</i> pilgrims, some eventually being sold to tourists. This piece was given by the King of Hedjadz to Colonel Cyril Wilson during the First World War.","physicalDescription":"Rectangular piece of black satin with silver & gold couched embroidery. Triangular top superimposed. Slit up the centre for about 3/4 length, edges of slit bordered with wavy stem of flowers in silver & gold. Edging of silver. Textile covered in gold Arabic inscriptions.","artistMakerPerson":[],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"silk satin","id":"x33509"}],"techniques":[{"text":"satin weave","id":"x37324"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Silk satin embroidered with metallic thread","categories":[{"text":"Embroidery","id":"THES48960"},{"text":"Islam","id":"THES48932"},{"text":"Textiles","id":"THES48885"},{"text":"Africa","id":"THES49019"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"MES","id":"THES48607"},"images":["2019MF6652","2019MF6711"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"42 (VA)","id":"THES49806"},"free":"","case":"WW10","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Fragment of the door curtain from the Ka'bah","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Egypt","id":"x29512"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"Circa 1910","earliest":"1905-01-01","latest":"1914-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Length","value":"119.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"64","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"Converted to cm from inches in original acquisition register","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"This fragment of the kiswah was given to the vendor, Colonel Cyril Wilson, by the King of Hijaz during the First World War.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Section of the door curtain from the Ka'bah","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"Miller, Lesley Ellis, and Ana Cabrera Lafuente, with Claire Allen-Johnstone, eds. <u>Silk: Fibre, Fabric and Fashion</u>. London: Thames & Hudson Ltd in association with the Victoria and Albert Museum, 2021. ISBN 978-0-500-48065-6.","id":"AUTH389403"},"details":"This object features in the publication Silk: Fibre, Fabric and Fashion (2021)","free":""}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"Jameel Gallery \r\n\r\nSection of the Door Cover of the Ka’bah\nEgypt, probably Cairo\n1875–1900\n\r\nThis silk cloth is part of the <i>sitara</i>, the cloth that covers the door of the Ka’bah. It is lavishly embroidered with quotations from the Qur’an. Traditionally the textiles that covered the outside of the Ka’bah were made in Egypt. By the late 1920s production moved to Mecca, where they are still made today.\n\nSilk with metal thread couched embroidery\n\nMuseum no. T.113-1932\n","date":{"text":"17/09/2012","earliest":"2012-09-17","latest":"2012-09-17"}}],"partNumbers":["T.113-1932"],"accessionNumberNum":"113","accessionNumberPrefix":"T","accessionYear":1932,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-20","recordCreationDate":"2008-12-12","availableToBook":false}}