The female bust in the centre shows a richly-jewelled woman with dark hair, wearing a diadem, drop pearl earrings, a necklace and a gold fibula and bracelet. The outer border is of stylised red and black interlace, studded with small orange and green crosses. The axes of the border are decorated with multi-petalled white and red flowers with green stems, whilst flying creatures (cockerels? Cf. FT 153) decorate the corners.
Origin:
Egypt
Date:
5th - 8th century
Material:
Linen and wool
Dimensions:
Warp: 19 cm, weft: 27.5 cm
Comparisons:
Cf. FT 153.
Benaki Museum, inv. 8493: head (Panopean Nereid).
Louvre, inv. X4157: bust of a richly adorned woman.
Coll. Choron (cat. The rich Life and the Dance, UIP 2015), inv. C15: idem.
Provenance:
Collection Coptic textiles Fill-Trevisiol: donation
Location:
Musée royal de Mariemont
Linen and woollen tapestry
I. Ground weave
(small fragment on one side of the tabula)
Warp:
natural-coloured linen S: +/- 24/cm
Weft:
natural-coloured linen S: 10/cm
Weave:
warp-faced tabby
Sewing yarn:
2S linen
II. Tapestry areas
Warp:
linen S
Weft:
purple, orange, green, blue and red wool S: 40-52/cm; natural-coloured linen S: +/- 40/cm
Weave:
extended tabby 2/2
Ribs per cm:
8
Special techniques:
slit tapestry, eccentric weft, vertical weft brocading