Indian textile fragment, 14th-15th century

This block-printed, cotton textile fragment, found in Old Cairo, Egypt, was made in Gujarat, India. It features a repeated stylized tendril pattern made by stamping red-brown dye on the cloth in vertical sections. Vibrantly dyed and decorated Gujarati textiles were an important part of the maritime trade between North Africa and Western India, in great demand because their colors lasted longer than those of cloth made in other regions.