The Earliest Surviving Tent
Central Asia, late 13th century CE
This extraordinary set of matching panels is the only surviving example of the interior of a Mongol tent. Such tents are otherwise only known from miniature paintings and historical accounts.
The Mongols took craftsmen from different places such as Iran, China, and Central Asia, and set them to work side by side in the same workshop.
Here, Iranian-style birds in roundels are combined with Chinese-style dragons and peonies to create a remarkable whole.
