Cairo Under Wraps: Early Islamic Textiles
What we know about textiles from the early days of Islam comes primarily from Egypt, where fragile materials—linen, cotton, wool, silk—have been preserved in the dry soil as burial shrouds.
This exhibition displays textiles from the first six centuries of Muslim rule, mostly made in Egypt but also imported from other quarters of the Muslim world — Iraq, Iran, and Yemen. The textiles tell a story of wide-ranging global trade and a taste for high-quality luxury goods.
Some of the material on display was collected by Charles Trick Currelly, the founding director of the ROM. In this our centennial year, which is also the year that another major cultural institution — the Aga Khan Museum — will be opening in Toronto, we celebrate by featuring the ROM’s collection of Early Islamic textiles.
View all Groups
Centennial Government Partners
