Polychrome fragment of clavus (?)

Inventory number: FT 85
Photo Michel Lechien, Musée royal de Mariemont

Lanceolate floral motif and rosettes, alternating with multi-coloured crossed ribbons on a red background. Two friezes with multicoloured geometric motifs frame the decoration.

Origin:

Egypt

Date:

7th - 10th century

Material:

Linen and wool

Dimensions:

Warp: 10 cm, weft: 19.5 cm

Comparisons:

Cf. FT 145.
Pushkin Museum inv. 5815.

Provenance:

Collection Coptic textiles Fill-Trevisiol: donation

Location:

Musée royal de Mariemont

Inwoven woollen and linen polychrome tapestry on linen cloth

I. Ground weave

Warp:

natural-coloured linen S: 22/cm

Weft:

natural-coloured linen S: 22/cm

Weave:

tabby

Other features:

self-bands 2 x 4 yarns/pick

II. Tapestry areas

Warp:

linen S

Weft:

red, yellow, green, blue, orange and pink wool Z: 60/cm; natural-coloured linen S

Weave:

extended tabby 2/2

Ribs per cm:

11

Special techniques:

slit tapestry, eccentric weft, soumak for outlining figures

Dyes analysed:

Weftthread red, yellow and blue wool Z: madder, weld and indigo/woad

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