Tabula of a furnishing fabric with a female bust

Inventory number: FT 144
Photo Michel Lechien, Musée royal de Mariemont
Photo Michel Lechien, Musée royal de Mariemont

The central square, surrounded by a dotted border, frames a three-quarter bust of a woman wearing a necklace with a ‘bulla’. The external border, whose upper part is missing, has medallions with large rosettes or baskets of fruit. Details of the face have been reconstituted in modern times.

Origin:

Egypt

Date:

5th - 8th century

Material:

Linen and wool

Dimensions:

Warp: 53 cm, weft: 41 cm

Comparisons:

Cf. FT 4.
Brooklyn Museum, inv. 41.891: relief of the goddess Gaia : same necklace.
The figure’s necklace is identical to the symbol of fertility and fecundity that the Earth goddess is wearing on a bas-relief from Herakleopolis Magna (5th century).

Provenance:

Collection Coptic textiles Fill-Trevisiol: donation

Location:

Musée royal de Mariemont

Inwoven linen and woollen tapestry

I. Ground weave

Warp:

natural-coloured linen S: 16/cm

Weft:

natural-coloured linen S: 8/cm

Weave:

warp-faced tabby

II. Tapestry areas

Warp:

linen S

Weft:

brown, red, orange, blue, green and ochre wool S: +/- 36/cm; natural-coloured linen S: 30/cm

Weave:

extended tabby: irregular units of 2 and 3 warp yarns

Ribs per cm:

6

Sewing Yarn:

linen 2S

Special techniques:

slit tapestry, eccentric weft, flying thread brocading for details, vertical weft brocading with linen S2Z; false hatching: paired weft: one brown wool and 1 linen yarn/pick

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