Why is it hard to identify early Islamic textiles without inscriptions?

Identifying early Islamic textiles without inscriptions is challenging primarily because of the continuity of pre-existing traditions and the high mobility of these goods.

Several factors contribute to this difficulty:

• Inherited Traditions: Early Islamic textile factories often continued using the same techniques and styles as their pre-Islamic predecessors. Consequently, it is frequently difficult to distinguish Islamic work from Byzantine or Coptic textiles.1
• Trade and Mobility: Textiles were easily transported across the Muslim world and beyond. This widespread movement makes it hard to define specific regional Islamic styles, as objects were not confined to their place of origin.1
• Lack of Systematic Classification: While a vast number of textile fragments from the early medieval period have been preserved, little order has been established among them. Aside from specific groups like Buyid silks, scholars have yet to successfully categorize these fragments to match the types mentioned in early literary sources.1

Because of these factors, inscriptions serve as a vital tool for identification. While their absence does not disprove an Islamic origin, further detailed investigation is required to definitively define these textiles.1