fabric – habibi fundation

Fabric and Textile Arts Collection

Expressions of Textile Art Through Time

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Expressions of Textile Art Through Time

In the museum's textile and fabric collection, the art of Qalamkar (block-printing) with its pure motifs and captivating colors, delicate Termeh (brocade) woven from silk threads, and magnificent filigree work are on display, each narrating an aspect of authentic Iranian taste and art. The exquisite silk embroidery panels in this collection have also been created with utmost delicacy and artistry and are a beautiful reflection of Iranian taste and art in various historical periods. Some of these remarkable works are nearly a century old and still display the glory and authenticity of Iranian art.

Some Notable Treasury Items

A Piece of the Kaaba's Kiswah

Among the valuable works in this collection, one of the most prominent and impressive is a piece of the Kiswah (the cloth that covers the Kaaba), which was gifted to Dr. Hassan Habibi in 1987 by King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia. This exquisite cloth is adorned with filigree work, and verses from the Holy Quran are embroidered on it with gold and silver threads. The delicacy of the stitching, the brilliant luster, and the visual splendor of this work have made it a unique memento of Islamic art and religious culture.

Silk Embroidery Panel

One of the valuable works in the museum’s collection is an exquisite silk embroidery panel that was gifted to Dr. Hassan Habibi in 2000 by the Prime Minister of Vietnam. In this work, a serene and dreamlike landscape is depicted using precise and detailed stitches. The soft colors and masterful composition give the panel a captivating charm, making it one of the brilliant examples of Eastern textile art.

Exquisite Vietnamese Silk Embroidery Panel

This exquisite silk embroidery panel is a brilliant work by one of Vietnam’s prominent artists. This piece, with its delicate stitches and use of colorful silk threads, depicts a dreamlike landscape of a traditional house amidst nature. The precise details in the stitching, the artistic shading, and the harmony of colors have turned this panel into a captivating and soothing work of art.

There are valuable examples of Ghalamkar, an ancient art of fabric decoration, which gives a unique look to fabrics through block-printing of traditional motifs and hand-coloring. Termeh is an exquisite and delicate fabric woven from silk and wool threads, possessing a unique beauty with its Iranian motifs. Filigree is a manifestation of the delicacy and skill of Iranian artists, in which thin silver and gold wires are turned into intricate and beautiful patterns and used in the decoration of fabrics and clothing. Silk embroidery is also an art that creates captivating and unique patterns by sewing colorful silk threads onto fabric, giving a special look to textiles. This collection is a treasury of Iranian art and skill that displays the authenticity and ancient beauty of these arts.