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