Concourse of the Birds Oblong Scarf

An art scarf inspired by The Met collection. The lively motif featured on both sides of this scarf comes from an illustrated manuscript (ca. 1600) of Farid al-Din Attar’s mystical poem Language of the Birds. The text comprises a series of parables narrated by a hoopoe, a crested bird that leads a flock representing individual souls on a journey to find the mythic simurgh, a benevolent winged creature symbolizing spiritual unity. This scarf reimagines the illustration decorating “The Concourse of the Birds,” a charming folio added to the manuscript in the early 17th century. Signed by Habiballah of Sava (Iranian, active ca. 1590-1610), the painting depicts the hoopoe addressing his avian companions before they depart on their quest. To find inspiration for how to style this scarf, read our blog post