As are the tabulae, the right-angled edging is decorated with intersecting fret bands, punctuated by small crosses in squares. The motifs on the lower border are Greek vases, each on a stem.
Origin:
Egypt
Date:
4th - 6th century
Material:
Linen and wool
Dimensions:
Warp: 77 cm, weft: 48 cm
Comparisons:
MET, New York, inv. 89.18.148.
Kunstsammlungen Chemnitz, inv. Ko 275: kantharos.
Provenance:
Collection Coptic textiles Fill-Trevisiol: donation
Location:
Musée royal de Mariemont
Inwoven tapestry in the linen cloth for the edging motifs; the tabulae sewn on
I. Ground weave
Warp:
natural-coloured linen S: 26/cm
Weft:
natural-coloured linen S: 17/cm
Weave:
warp-faced tabby
Other features:
starting border: twining; start of the weave: 7 wefts with paired yarns; small fragment of simple selvedge
(1) Tapestry weave
(2) Applied tabulae (tapestry weave)
Warp:
(1) linen S
(2) Linen S
Weft:
(1-2) brown wool S: 30/cm; natural-coloured linen S, tripled: 28/cm
Weave:
(1) extended tabby partly 2/2 and partly 3/3
(2) extended tabby 3/3
Ribs per cm:
(1) 9-13
(2) 9
Special techniques:
(1) slit tapestry, eccentric weft and flying thread
(2) slit tapestry, eccentric weft and flying thread brocading