Kiswah
Circa 1910 (made)
| Place of origin |
This textile is part of the kiswah, the black silk cloth that traditionally covers the Kaaba in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. The Kaaba, a cube-shaped building, is considered the most sacred site in Islam. The kiswah is embroidered or brocaded with inscriptions from the Qu'ran, the Islamic holy book.
Each year, many Muslims make pilgrimage (hajj) to Mecca and the Kaaba. The hajj takes place during Dhu al-Hijah, the twelfth month of the Islamic calendar. At this time, the kiswah is replaced with a fresh cloth, and the old kiswah cut up. The pieces of the removed kiswah are currently distributed amongst visiting foreign Muslim dignitaries and organisations. Earlier kiswah pieces were distributed amongst the hajj pilgrims, some eventually being sold to tourists. This piece was given by the King of Hedjadz to Colonel Cyril Wilson during the First World War.
Each year, many Muslims make pilgrimage (hajj) to Mecca and the Kaaba. The hajj takes place during Dhu al-Hijah, the twelfth month of the Islamic calendar. At this time, the kiswah is replaced with a fresh cloth, and the old kiswah cut up. The pieces of the removed kiswah are currently distributed amongst visiting foreign Muslim dignitaries and organisations. Earlier kiswah pieces were distributed amongst the hajj pilgrims, some eventually being sold to tourists. This piece was given by the King of Hedjadz to Colonel Cyril Wilson during the First World War.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Silk satin embroidered with metallic thread |
| Brief description | Section of the door curtain from the Ka'bah |
| Physical description | Rectangular piece of black satin with silver & gold couched embroidery. Triangular top superimposed. Slit up the centre for about 3/4 length, edges of slit bordered with wavy stem of flowers in silver & gold. Edging of silver. Textile covered in gold Arabic inscriptions. |
| Dimensions |
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| Gallery label | Jameel Gallery
Section of the Door Cover of the Ka’bah
Egypt, probably Cairo
1875–1900
This silk cloth is part of the sitara, the cloth that covers the door of the Ka’bah. It is lavishly embroidered with quotations from the Qur’an. Traditionally the textiles that covered the outside of the Ka’bah were made in Egypt. By the late 1920s production moved to Mecca, where they are still made today.
Silk with metal thread couched embroidery
Museum no. T.113-1932
(17/09/2012) |
| Object history | This fragment of the kiswah was given to the vendor, Colonel Cyril Wilson, by the King of Hijaz during the First World War. |
| Summary | This textile is part of the kiswah, the black silk cloth that traditionally covers the Kaaba in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. The Kaaba, a cube-shaped building, is considered the most sacred site in Islam. The kiswah is embroidered or brocaded with inscriptions from the Qu'ran, the Islamic holy book. Each year, many Muslims make pilgrimage (hajj) to Mecca and the Kaaba. The hajj takes place during Dhu al-Hijah, the twelfth month of the Islamic calendar. At this time, the kiswah is replaced with a fresh cloth, and the old kiswah cut up. The pieces of the removed kiswah are currently distributed amongst visiting foreign Muslim dignitaries and organisations. Earlier kiswah pieces were distributed amongst the hajj pilgrims, some eventually being sold to tourists. This piece was given by the King of Hedjadz to Colonel Cyril Wilson during the First World War. |
| Bibliographic reference | Miller, Lesley Ellis, and Ana Cabrera Lafuente, with Claire Allen-Johnstone, eds. Silk: Fibre, Fabric and Fashion. London: Thames & Hudson Ltd in association with the Victoria and Albert Museum, 2021. ISBN 978-0-500-48065-6.
This object features in the publication Silk: Fibre, Fabric and Fashion (2021) |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | T.113-1932 |
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| Record created | December 12, 2008 |
| Record URL |
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