Fragment decorated with deteriorated tapestry bands

Inventory number: FT 213
Photo Michel Lechien, Musée royal de Mariemont
Photo Michel Lechien, Musée royal de Mariemont

The design is inwoven in the linen cloth. The central decorative band is bordered by two identical strips with yellow and green twisted strings. Set on the red ground of the medallions are griffons, mythical animals with the body of a lion, but the feet, beak and wings of birds of prey. The green-coloured spaces between the medallions are traversed by yellow and brown ribbons.

Origin:

Egypt

Date:

10th - 12th century

Material:

Linen and silk

Dimensions:

Warp: 11.5 cm; weft: 25.5 cm

Comparisons:

MAD, Paris, inv. 26746: animal band on blue cloth.
State Hermitage Museum, inv. 18354.
Coll. J-F Bouvier, inv. M 24: medaillon with a similar four-legged animal, although identified as a winged bull of Achaemenid influence. Our textile could also have come from the workshops of Bahnasa in Upper Egypt.

Provenance:

Collection Coptic textiles Fill-Trevisiol: donation

Location:

Musée royal de Mariemont

Linen and silk tapestry

I. Ground weave

Warp:

natural-coloured linen S: 19/cm

Weft:

natural-coloured linen S: 18/cm

Weave:

tabby

II. Tapestry areas

Warp:

natural-coloured linen S: 19/cm

Weft:

green, yellow, red and brown silk: 55/cm

Special techniques:

slit tapestry, eccentric weft

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