Egyptian Cotton Appliqué Hanging, Late 19th Century

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Appliqué, a venerable textile art, empowers artisans to craft fabrics of diverse sizes and shapes without reliance on a loom. … Read more Appliqué, a venerable textile art, empowers artisans to craft fabrics of diverse sizes and shapes without reliance on a loom. Its origins likely trace back to a practical necessity: repair.

The earliest documented usage of appliqué harkens back to the 21st Dynasty in Egypt, approximately around 1040 BC. Remarkably, this predates the renowned Royal felts discovered at Pazyryk by 5-700 years, highlighting its profound antiquity and significance in ancient textile craftsmanship.

A notable exemplar of Egyptian appliqué is a cloth adorned with calligraphic mastery, bearing the inscription of the basmala, invoking "In the name of God, the Merciful, the Merciful" (bismillah ar-rahman ar-rahim). This textile artifact not only reflects the technical finesse of its creators but also serves as a poignant testament to the spiritual ethos of its time.

One such artifact, akin to the described rug, found its way as a diplomatic gift to a museum in Holland, where its cultural and historical value is duly appreciated. In affluent households, rugs embellished with Quranic verses or calligraphy were esteemed as much for their aesthetic appeal as for the spiritual resonance they evoked, often adorning the walls or floors as symbols of piety and prosperity. See less