The pattern on this fragment of velvet has several associations. The pairs of wavy lines and groups of three large dots represent the pelts of the striped tiger and spotted leopard.
In the Islamic world, these designs acquired powerful associations. The Iranian hero Rustam, for example, is usually depicted wearing a tiger-skin coat. By 1500, these designs were popular motifs on Ottoman Turkish textiles and were often combined. They soon appeared in other media, such as tilework.