Stories of Syria's Textiles: Art and Heritage across Two Millennia

October 15, 2023 - January 28, 2024 Get tickets

Stories of Syria’s Textiles: Art and Heritage across Two Millennia highlights textiles’ outstanding contributions to Syrian culture during antiquity and between the mid-nineteenth and mid-twentieth centuries, as well as today. 

Syrian textiles are remarkable for their artistic, social, and economic significance. Finely woven clothing and furnishings are the work of highly skilled weavers and other artisans. They are also important markers of status and identity that reflect the local traditions of Syrian cities, villages and nomadic groups, and valuable luxury goods that were traded widely. Syria’s climate is ideal for silk production, and historically it was a major crossroads on the Silk Routes that connected East and West. 

Since 2011, Syria has been embroiled in conflict that has resulted in the deaths of over 300,000 civilians. Millions have been displaced both internally and as refugees in other countries. Numerous archaeological sites, historic monuments, and museums have also been damaged or destroyed. With respect to textiles, longstanding traditions and knowledge are at risk of disappearing. Many Syrians are now working to preserve their tangible and intangible heritage for current and future generations, despite these exceptionally difficult conditions. 

Stories of Syria’s Textiles aims to contribute to these efforts, and asks us to consider what heritage means, in its broadest sense, and why its protection merits intense commitment.

Stories of Syria’s Textiles: Art and Heritage across Two Millennia is curated by Blair Fowlkes Childs, Adjunct Professor, Columbia University and the Institute of Fine Arts, New York University, in collaboration with consulting curator Deniz Beyazit, Curator, Department of Islamic Art, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and with organizational support from Emily Handlin, Associate Curator of Exhibitions and Collections, Katonah Museum of Art.

For more details about upcoming events and programs, download a copy of the Fall 2023 newsletter.

Exhibition Images

picture for Textile with rosettes, from Dura-Europos, ca. 200–256
Textile with rosettes, from Dura-Europos, ca. 200–256 Wool; weft-faced tapestry weave, 9 × 121/2 in. (22.9 × 31.8 cm). New Haven, Yale University Art Gallery, Yale-French Excavations at Dura-Europos, 1933.487. Photograph courtesy of Yale University Art Gallery.
picture for Textile with a geometric pattern, from Dura-Europos, ca. 200–256
Textile with a geometric pattern, from Dura-Europos, ca. 200–256 Silk; weft-faced compound plain weave, 31/8× 67/8 in. (8 × 14.5 cm). New Haven, Yale University Art Gallery, Yale-French Excavations at Dura-Europos, 1933.486a. Photograph courtesy of Yale University Art Gallery.
picture for Portrait of Ambai, from Palmyra, mid-1st–mid-2nd century
Portrait of Ambai, from Palmyra, mid-1st–mid-2nd century Limestone, 19 5/8 × 15 3/4 × 9 7/8 in. (50 × 40 × 25 cm). Pittsfield, Berkshire Museum, 1903.7.4 Photograph courtesy of the Berkshire Museum.
picture for Banquet relief of Zabdibol and family, from Palmyra, second half of 2nd century (after 148)
Banquet relief of Zabdibol and family, from Palmyra, second half of 2nd century (after 148) Limestone, 20 1/4 × 25 1/8× 6 7/8 in. (51.4 × 64.6 × 17.5 cm). New York, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Purchase, 1902, 02.29.1. Photograph courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
picture for Relief sculpture with men riding camels and horses, from Palmyra, 2nd century
Relief sculpture with men riding camels and horses, from Palmyra, 2nd century Limestone, 22 3/4 × 47 1/2 × 13 1/2 in. (57.7 × 120.7 × 34.5 cm). Cleveland Museum of Art, Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund, 1970.15. Photograph courtesy of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
picture for Woman’s coat, probably from northern Syria, late 19th–early 20th century
Woman’s coat, probably from northern Syria, late 19th–early 20th century Cotton, silk, and glass buttons; balanced plain weave, 50 × 541/2 in. (127 × 138.4 cm). Santa Fe, Museum of International Folk Art, Gift of Florence Dibell Bartlett, A.1955.86.938. Photograph courtesy of the Museum of International Folk Art.
picture for Man’s abaya (cloak), from Aleppo or Damascus, late 19th–early 20th century
Man’s abaya (cloak), from Aleppo or Damascus, late 19th–early 20th century Silk, cotton, and metal-wrapped thread; slit-tapestry weave; plain weave, moiré; satin weave; embroidered, 491/2 × 57 in. (147.3 × 125.7 cm). New York, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gift of Alan L. Wolfe, 1956, C.I.56.6.8. Photograph courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
picture for Man’s abaya (cloak), from Aleppo or Damascus, late 19th–early 20th century
Man’s abaya (cloak), from Aleppo or Damascus, late 19th–early 20th century Silk, metal-wrapped thread; tapestry weave, embroidered, 501/4 × 503/4 in. (127.6 × 128.9 cm). Philadelphia Museum of Art, Gift of Arthur J. Loeb and Mrs. Marguerite McBey in memory of their mother, Hortense Huntsberry Loeb, 1956, 1956-28-9. Photograph courtesy of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
picture for Tunic decoration with Alexander the hunter on horseback, probably from Syria, 7th century
Tunic decoration with Alexander the hunter on horseback, probably from Syria, 7th century Wool and linen; eccentric weft, soumak, weft-wrapping, slit-tapestry weave, 131/4 × 123/4 in. (33.5 × 32.5 cm). Washington, DC, the George Washington University Museum and the Textile Museum, acquired by George Hewitt Myers in 1948, 11.18. Photograph courtesy of the George Washington University Museum and the Textile Museum.

Explore Stories of Syria's Textiles: Art and Heritage across Two Millennia

Exhibition Catalogue

The exhibition will be accompanied by a fully-illustrated catalogue co-published by the KMA and Scala Art and Heritage Publishers featuring contributions by Maya Alkateb-Chami, Blair Fowlkes Childs, Deniz Beyazit, Lisa Brody, Julia Carlson, Martina Ferrari, Rania Kataf, and Janina Poskrobko-Streciwilk. This beautifully illustrated volume highlights the vibrant history and culture of Syria through its exceptional textile production. By presenting a broad range of textiles, created between the 2nd century to the present day, the accessible text reveals Syria’s central role in the development of global art and commerce, and more broadly, the significance of textiles as a form of material culture that reveals complex socio-political narratives. Published twelve years after the conflict in Syria began in 2011, this book underscores efforts to document, preserve, and revitalize Syrian cultural heritage, both tangible and intangible. Its examination presents new scholarship commissioned from leading archaeologists, textile conservators, art historians, and heritage professionals, and drawn from the knowledge of silk producers, weavers, and other artisans. With exquisite design and an approachable narrative, this thoughtful publication provides a valuable immersive and educational experience to arts professionals, connoisseurs, and the general public.

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Fall 2023 KMA Newsletter

For more details about upcoming events and programs, download a copy of the Fall 2023 newsletter.

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Katonah Museum of Art Announces Fall 2023 Exhibition Opening October 15

The Katonah Museum of Art is pleased to present the exhibition Stories of Syria’s Textiles: Art and Heritage across Two Millennia, on view from October 15, 2023 to January 28, 2024. The exhibition offers a fresh and compelling perspective on Syria’s rich cultural heritage through its textile production from antiquity to the present.

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Exhibition Support

Stories of Syria’s Textiles: Art and Heritage across Two Millennia and its accompanying catalogue were realized with generous funding from the Coby Foundation and the Nazmiyal Collection. Additional support has been provided by the Barakat Trust, the Gladys Krieble Delmas Foundation, Anne and Joel Ehrenkranz, the Ralph & Ricky Lauren Foundation, and the Director’s Circle of the Katonah Museum of Art: Mike Davies, Isabelle Harnoncourt Feigen, Vida Foubister, Nisa Geller, Virginia L. Gold, Linda Nordberg, Amy Parsons, Yvonne S. Pollack, Rochelle C. Rosenberg, Rebecca Samberg, and Richard and Audrey Zinman.

 

 

 


The Katonah Museum of Art is proud to be a grantee of ArtsWestchester with funding made possible by Westchester County government with the support of County Executive George Latimer. The Katonah Museum of Art’s programs are made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.
 

 




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Credits

Textile with rosettes, from Dura-Europos, ca. 200–256. Wool; weft-faced tapestry weave, 9 × 12 ½ in. (22.9 × 31.8 cm). New Haven, Yale University Art Gallery, Yale-French Excavations at Dura-Europos, 1933.487. Photo: Courtesy of Yale University Art Gallery.

Also on view

Rhonda Khalifeh: Immortal Stitch

October 15, 2023 - January 28, 2024