Border Ayyubid period (1171–1250)/Mamluk period (1250–1517), 13th/14th century

Editor: Here we have a textile fragment titled "Border," believed to be from the 13th or 14th century during the Ayyubid or Mamluk periods. It features ink drawing on a woven relief. Its worn condition gives it a sense of history. What strikes you most about this piece? Curator: Its apparent simplicity belies a complex intersection of identity and power. Fragments like these are rarely viewed in isolation. Who created this textile? Was it an artisan working under royal patronage, or a weaver creating functional, everyday cloth? The symbolism embedded within these geometric patterns tells us of a larger story related to trade routes, cultural exchanges, and possibly religious affiliations. It makes you consider: Who was deemed worthy of having their history preserved, and how does that impact what we know about that period today? Editor: So, you see it as almost a political statement, even if unintentionally? Curator: Absolutely. Everything carries inherent cultural coding. Even what seems merely "decorative" participates in larger narratives. Think about the status conferred by the possession of such a border, its relationship to trade networks – were specific groups marginalized by the production and trade of such goods? How might class or gender roles have affected those creating or consuming these textiles? Editor: That's a perspective I hadn’t fully considered. I was focused on the design, but seeing it as part of a larger system of power relations makes it far more interesting. Curator: Precisely. By understanding the socioeconomic conditions that informed its creation, we can use this textile fragment to pose questions about inclusion and exclusion in our understanding of the medieval Islamic world.