In the central square, surrounded by a wavy grapevine, a medallion frames a horseman turning on his mount, beneath which runs a hare being hunted. Same clothe (?) as FT 47.
Origin:
Egypt
Date:
4th - 6th century
Material:
Linen and wool
Dimensions:
Warp: 21 cm, weft: 33 cm
Comparisons:
Textile Museum, Washington, inv. 71.6: horseman.
The horseman motif, inherited from the hunts illustrated in mosaics and on sarcophagi of the Roman period, were greatly appreciated by the Egyptians. Their furnishing and clothes fabrics often had designs of hunters, saintly knights or warriors on horseback.
MFA, Boston, inv. 01.8353: hunters and lions.
Provenance:
Collection Coptic textiles Fill-Trevisiol: donation
Location:
Musée royal de Mariemont
Blue woollen tapestry sewn on a linnen ground weave
I. Ground weave
Warp:
natural-coloured linen S: 23/cm
Weft:
natural-coloured linen S: 11/cm
Weave:
warp-faced tabby
II. Tapestry areas
Warp:
natural-coloured wool 9/cm
Weft:
black wool S: +/- 60/cm; natural-coloured linen S: 55/cm
Weave:
weft-faced tabby
Sewing Yarn:
black wool S2Z and linen 2S
Special techniques:
slit tapestry, eccentric weft, flying thread brocading for details only, vertical weft; brocading