{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O179640"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O179640/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2012FL3459/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2012FL3459/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2012FL3459","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O179640/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O179640","accessionNumber":"T.439-1966","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 woven 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.","physicalDescription":"Kiswah, a rectangular piece of black silk damask with large woven chevrons filled with Arabic script on a satin ground. Woven with a thick weft bound in tabby.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"silk (textile)","id":"AAT243428"}],"techniques":[{"text":"damask weave","id":"x37293"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Silk satin damask","categories":[{"text":"Islam","id":"THES48932"},{"text":"Textiles","id":"THES48885"},{"text":"Religion","id":"THES48900"},{"text":"Africa","id":"THES49019"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"MES","id":"THES48607"},"images":["2012FL3459"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"42 (VA)","id":"THES49806"},"free":"","case":"WW10","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Kiswah","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Egypt","id":"x29512"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1917-1918","earliest":"1917-01-01","latest":"1918-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by Mr W. Hastings","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Length","value":"69.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"82.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Length","value":"27","unit":"in","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"34.5","unit":"in","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Kiswah, a rectangular piece of silk satin damask, Egypt, 1917-1918","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"pp.59-61","free":"Ipek, Dr. Selin, Dressing the Prophet. Textiles from the Haramayn. <u>Hali</u>. Summer  2011, Issue 168."},{"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 \n\nSection of the Cover of the Ka’bah\nEgypt, probably Cairo\n1917–18\n\r\nThis black silk cloth is part of the <i>Kiswah</i>, the cloth that covers the outside of the Ka’bah, the holy shrine in Mecca. During Hajj, the annual pilgrimage to Mecca, the Ka’bah linings are replaced with new silks and the old ones are cut up and distributed among the pilgrims.\n\nThe inscription includes the Shahadah, the Islamic declaration of faith. The other texts praise God. \n\nSilk thread in lampas weave\n\nMuseum no. T.439-1966\nGiven by Mr W. Hastings\n","date":{"text":"17/09/2012","earliest":"2012-09-17","latest":"2012-09-17"}}],"partNumbers":["T.439-1966"],"accessionNumberNum":"439","accessionNumberPrefix":"T","accessionYear":1966,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-20","recordCreationDate":"2008-12-15","availableToBook":false}}