117 - BLACK CALLIGRAPHIC TEXTILE FRAGMENT FROM KISWAH, SAUDI ARABIA, 20TH CENTURY

BLACK CALLIGRAPHIC TEXTILE FRAGMENT FROM KISWAH, SAUDI ARABIA, 20TH CENTURY A fragment from the curtain of the Holy Ka‘ba, woven in black silk and punctuated by calligraphic compositions in contrasting tones. The textile features elegant undulating bands and geometric compositions framing various devotional inscriptions executed in woven calligraphy. INSCRIPTIONS: Kalimat al-Tawhid: “There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.” “Glory be to Allah and praise be to Him; Glory be to Allah, the Most Great. ” “Yâ Hannân, Yâ Mannân”—“O Most Compassionate, O Most Generous Giver.” DIMENSIONS: 145 × 186 cm