Sleeve decoration with red ground from a tunic in olive green wool

Inventory number: FT 127
Photo Michel Lechien, Musée royal de Mariemont
Photo Michel Lechien, Musée royal de Mariemont
Photo Michel Lechien, Musée royal de Mariemont

Red, blue and green ribbons form lozenges enclosing birds with red and green or blue feathers, with their heads turned. Each of the two bands is edged with small red waves.

Origin:

Egypt

Date:

6th - 8th century

Material:

Wool

Dimensions:

Warp: 19 cm, weft: 23.5 cm

Comparisons:

Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, inv. 7375 (Pfister Coll.).
Various pictoral representations from the first centuries AD show that coloured tunics were a privilege reserved for women. The dimensions of our tunic indicate that it belonged to a young woman.

Provenance:

Collection Coptic textiles Fill-Trevisiol: donation

Location:

Musée royal de Mariemont

Woollen tapestry

I. Ground weave

Warp:

red wool S: 11/cm

Weft:

green wool S: 50/cm

Weave:

weft-faced tabby

Other features:

selvedges are missing

II. Tapestry areas

Warp:

red wool S: 11/cm

Weft:

blue, red, green, ochre and natural-coloured wool S: 48-52/cm

Weave:

weft-faced tabby

Special techniques:

slit tapestry, eccentric weft, dovetailing, vertical weft brocading

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