Fragment of a Tiraz, 1058-60. Egypt, Fatimid period, Caliphate of al-Mustansir, AH 450-52, 11th Century. Linen and silk: tapestry (originally inwoven in a tabby ground); overall: 8.6 x 16.3 cm (3 3/8 x 6 7/16 in.). The tripartite band consists of a central band with a frieze of paired, confronted griffins, framed by oval cartouches which are delineated only by the joined trifoliate motifs which fill the spandrels. On either side are opposing lines of Arabic text in Kufic script. The two lines of inscription, both of which are incomplete, appear to represent repetitions of a single text.