Scarf with Old Testament Scenes (detail), 1648
India
Linen and Silk Thread

Made in India for the European market, this scarf features scenes from the Old Testament. The stories of Jacob, Rebekah, Solomon, and David and Abigail appear in medallions separated by bands with flowers and leaping animals—dogs, squirrels, stags, hares, and foxes. The two figures in European dress who appear at the bottom, a woman holding a bouquet and a man with a falcon, may be the couple who requested this beautifully embroidered piece.


Source: The Metropolitan Museum of Art