Talismanic Shirt
Unknown Artist
This talismanic shirt was believed to be imbued with protective powers and may have been meant to be worn under armor in battle. Its surface is decorated with painted squares, medallions, and lappet-shaped sections with the entire Qur'an written inside; these areas are bordered by the ninety-nine names of God written in gold against an orange background. A panel at the center of the reverse contains a proclamation in gold script stating, "God is the Merciful, the Compassionate."
Credit: Purchase, Friends of Islamic Art Gifts, 1998
15th-early 16th century
Cotton, ink, gold; plain weave, painted
63.5 in
1998.199
Image and text © Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2019
Where you'll find this
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Permanent collection
