Mashru Fragment

This mashru fragment were made in India in the 19th century. Mashru is silk warp-faced satin with a cotton weft, and was an Indian specialty produced for markets in Palestine, Lebanon, Jordan and Turkey as well as to Europe.

This type of cloth was popular in the region, because Muslim men were not supposed to wear pure silk clothing. The mix of silk with cotton in this type of textile was a way to achieve a higher-quality textile without breaking any rules. The word “mashru” means “permitted” in Arabic, indicating that this mix of fibers made them acceptable.

The striped fragment has beautiful vegetal colors. The fragment is delicate for use but would look great mounted.