Very rich decor, comprising two wide concentric borders decorated with tiny motifs. Putti and four-legged animals fill respectively the corners. Two super-imposed squares create a star with a pair of dancers in the centre.
Origin:
Egypt
Date:
4th - 6th century
Material:
Linen and wool
Dimensions:
Warp: 14 cm, weft: 15.5 cm
Comparisons:
Louvre, inv. AC 140.
Provenance:
Collection Coptic textiles Fill-Trevisiol: donation
Location:
Musée royal de Mariemont
Woollen and linen tapestry
I. No ground weave
II. Tapestry areas
Warp:
Natural-coloured wool S: 12-14/cm
Weft:
purple wool S: 69/cm; blue wool S: 80/cm; natural-coloured linen S: 84/cm
Weave:
weft-faced tabby
Special techniques:
slit tapestry, eccentric weft, vertical weftbrocading; soumak for details of figures on the edge of the tabula: fragment of 2-2 countered twining with 3S natural-coloured wool
Dyes analysed:
weftthread: red S wool: mollusk purple madder, indigo/woad