Horse (?) decoration with geometric design

Inventory number: FT 210
Photo Michel Lechien, Musée royal de Mariemont
Photo Michel Lechien, Musée royal de Mariemont

This piece has embroidered designs (missing in places) in yellow, red and blue wool on a brushed, felt-like, brown wool background. Parallel friezes of yellow, pink-red and blue lozenges converge towards the lower point of the textile, in function of the use for which it was intended. The upper left, which is almost complete, has retained the lines around the friezes and tends to confirm that the design set out to be in the shape of a V.

Origin:

Egypt

Date:

11th century (?)

Material:

Wool

Dimensions:

33 x 23 cm

Comparisons:

A textile showing a similar technique and design was uncovered in Fustat, in a stratigraphic layer dating from the 11th century. This would nevertheless have originally been produced in Central Asia, showing that there was contact between Egypt and that region of the world, which was by then Fatimid.

Provenance:

Collection Coptic textiles Fill-Trevisiol: donation

Location:

Musée royal de Mariemont

Brushed wool, chain stitch embroidery

The weaving structure can not be analysed because the cloth is brushed and felted and the back is glued.

Embroidery:

chain stitch: yellow, red and nuances of blue wool Z

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