On display
Image of Gallery in South Kensington

Kiswah

1917-1918 (made)
Artist/Maker
Unknown
Place of origin
Egypt (made)

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 woven 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.

Object details

Categories
Islam
Textiles
Religion
Africa
Object type
Kiswah
Materials and techniques
Silk satin damask
Silk (Textile)
Damask Weave
Brief description
Kiswah, a rectangular piece of silk satin damask, Egypt, 1917-1918
Physical description
Kiswah, a rectangular piece of black silk damask with large woven chevrons filled with Arabic script on a satin ground. Woven with a thick weft bound in tabby.
Dimensions
  • Length: 69.5cm
  • Width: 82.5cm
  • Length: 27in
  • Width: 34.5in
Gallery label
(17/09/2012)
Jameel Gallery

Section of the Cover of the Ka’bah
Egypt, probably Cairo
1917–18

This black silk cloth is part of the Kiswah, the cloth that covers the outside of the Ka’bah, the holy shrine in Mecca. During Hajj, the annual pilgrimage to Mecca, the Ka’bah linings are replaced with new silks and the old ones are cut up and distributed among the pilgrims.

The inscription includes the Shahadah, the Islamic declaration of faith. The other texts praise God.

Silk thread in lampas weave

Museum no. T.439-1966
Given by Mr W. Hastings
Credit line
Given by Mr W. Hastings
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 woven 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.
Bibliographic references
  • pp.59-61 Ipek, Dr. Selin, Dressing the Prophet. Textiles from the Haramayn. Hali. Summer 2011, Issue 168.
  • 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
Middle East Section
Accession number
T.439-1966

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Record createdDecember 15, 2008
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O179640/kiswah-unknown/
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