Caravans of Gold, Fragments in Time

Cap with striped inscribed silk

Object Name

Cap with striped inscribed silk

Culture / Site

Egypt or Syria

Medium

Lampas fabric, silk and gold

Date

Mamluk period, 14th century

Dimensions

14 x 15.5 x 10.5 cm

Credit Line

The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH, purchase from the J.H. Wade Fund, 1985.5. Photograph courtesy of The Cleveland Museum of Art

Section

Saharan Frontiers/Mansa Musa's Hajj to Mecca

Description

During his sojourn in Cairo, Mansa Musa was received by the sultan al-Nasir al-Din Muhammad, who showered him with gifts including a skullcap with caliphal emblems. The cap undoubtedly resembled this luxurious example from the same time period, which is inscribed “Glory to our lord sultan al-Malik al-Nasir.”