Three-part design, originally purple in the middle and red on the sides

Inventory number: FT 193
Photo Michel Lechien, Musée royal de Mariemont
Photo Michel Lechien, Musée royal de Mariemont

Two coloured surfaces, separated by a small band decorated with a frieze of ecru geometric motifs, spirals and stylised plants. The function of the textile is unclear. It might have been a furnishing fabric, since the colours and design are very similar an Etruscan sarcophagus cushion. A second hypothesis is that it might have been a shawl or head veil.

Origin:

Egypt

Date:

6th - 7th century

Material:

Wool

Dimensions:

Warp: 71 cm (+ 1 cm fringe), weft: 85.5 cm (selvedge to selvedge)

Comparisons:

Kunstsammlungen Chemnitz, inv. Ko F 21.

Provenance:

Collection Coptic textiles Fill-Trevisiol: donation

Location:

Musée royal de Mariemont

Woollen weave, decorated in flying thread

Warp:

khaki wool S: 9/cm

Weft:

red and purple (fleece dyed, red and blue wool spun together) wool S: 45/cm

Weave:

weft-faced tabby

Band:

slit tapestry, soumak

Selvedges:

3 units of 5, 5 and 3 warp yarns together; at one side, two twined cords are entered into the weave at the selvedge: 10 S yarns are kept together in the weave over 10 wefts then these yarns are folded and twined into a cord; function?; at the other side, remains of stitches and a cord?; short fringe starting border: short fringes/loops of 3 warp yarns each; S2Z khaki wool twining: twined around each loop; S4Z white wool: kind of blanket stitch around each loop

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