Tomb Cover

1640–1950 (radiocarbon date, 95% probability)

Maker Unknown

Textiles

Tomb Cover, 1640–1950 (radiocarbon date, 95% probability). Iraq or Iran, in the style of the Buyid period (945–1055). Compound tabby; silk; overall: 210.2 x 102.5 cm (82 3/4 x 40 3/8 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund 1954.780 This complete loom piece was woven to cover a human corpse: at the top, a circle to cover the head; below, a long tapering shape for the body. The only decoration on the dark brown ground consists of Kufic inscriptions reserved in beige on bands. The text which was undoubtedly composed for the decoration of a funeral pall gives the name of the deceased in the circle around the top. Other inscriptions refer to the part of the body over which the decoration lies.

Original Source

Maker/Artist: Maker Unknown
Classification: Textile
Formatted Medium: compound tabby; silk
Medium: compound, tabby, silk
Dimensions: Overall: 210.2 x 102.5 cm (82 3/4 x 40 3/8 in.)
Inscribed: Inscription: Maghfirah min al-Rahman al-Rahim lil-'abd al-'asi 'Ali bin Muhammad bin Shahrazad bin Rastawayh al-Isbahani Translation: Forgiveness [be] from the Merciful, the Compassionate to the disobedient servant 'Ali bin Muhammad bin Shahrazad bin Rastawayh al-Isbaha-ni. Inscription: Allahumma bayyid wajhi yawm taswaddu fihi al-wujuh wa-la'alla-ni [or la'alli] tujilluni yawm al-'ar Translation: Oh God, whiten my face on the day when faces are blackened, and perhaps Thou wilt honor me on the day of dishonor. Inscription: Allahumma thabbit qalbi 'alá dinaka bi-haqq Muhammad wa-alihi Translation: Oh God, fix my heart firmly in Thy religion by virtue of Muhammad and his family. Inscription: Allahumma inni awda'tuka bi-qalbi hadha al-iqrar bika wa-bi-al-nabi Muhammad sallá Allah 'alayhi wa-alihi wa-al-a'immah 'alayhim al-salam wa-anta khayr mustawda' tarid 'alá waqt su'al Munkir wa-Nakir bi-rahmatika ya arham al-rahimin Translation: Oh God, I have deposited with Thee my heart. This is the recognition of Thee and of the Prophet Muhammad (God bless him and his family) and the imams (upon them be peace). For Thou art the best repository; Thou arrivest, at the time of the questioning by Munkir and Nakir, with Thy mercy, Oh most Merciful of the Merciful. Inscription: Allahumma a'tini kitabi bi-yamini wa-hasibni hisaban yasiran Translation: Oh, God, give me my book in my right hand and give me an easy reckoning. Inscription: Allahumma la tu'tini kitabi bi-shimali wa-la taj'alha maghlulah ilá 'unuqi Translation: Oh God, do not give me my book in my left hand, and do not cause it to be chained around my neck. Inscription: Allahumma thabbit qadami 'alá al-sirat Translation: Oh God, fix my feet firmly on the road. Inscription: yawm tazill fihi al-aqdam Translation: on the day when feet slip on it.
Departments: Textiles
Accession Number: 1954.780
Credit Line: Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund
Exhibitions: The Exhibition of Persian Art: 7000 Years of Art in Iran, Arts of Islam, Sept mille ans d'art en Iran. Petit Palais, Paris, France (October 1-December 31, 1961)., The Arts of Islam. The Arts Council of Great Britain, Hayward Gallery, London, UK (April 8-July 4, 1976)., The Heritage of Islam. Houston, TX; Pittsburgh, PA; San Francisco, CA; Washington, DC (March 10, 1982-September 5, 1983).
Rights Statement: CC0