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LOT 0588
Egyptian Coptic Textile Fragment Group
CIRCA 4TH-6TH CENTURY A.D.
4 1/4 - 4 3/4 in. (33 grams total including package, 10.7-12.2 cm).
Comprising: remains of a segmentum in yellow, green and brown wool over a red linen background, S torsion, embroidered with a central band and coloured buds; a near complete tablion with representation of a dancer, inside a rondo, with four hares running on the four corners, triangular border on the external edge. [3, No Reserve]
ProvenanceAcquired 1970s-1996.
Property of a North American collector.
London collection, 2016.
Cf. Del Francia Barocas, L., Antinoe, Cent’anni dopo,catalogo della mostra, Firenze, Palazzo Medici Riccardi, 10 Luglio – 1 novembre 1998, p.185, for similar textiles.
FootnotesThe central dancing figure, with her attributes and attitude, can only be interpreted as a Maenad, isolated from the Bacchic procession and abandoned to sacred trances.
CONDITIONTimeLine Auctions follows a vetting process to ensure the authenticity and legality of all items, reinforcing our commitment to integrity and responsible trading. Each antiquity, antique, and coin lot undergoes thorough examination by a vetting committee of at least ten external specialists, professional trade association members, scientists, and archaeologists: Our Vetting Process
AUCTIONS:
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Egyptian Coptic Textile Fragment Group
Circa 4th-5th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £65
Comprising: an orbiculus in coarse linen and brown wool, S torsion, embroidered with the image of a stylised bird, surrounded by tondos ornamented with geometric embroidery, borders meander decorated; a similar fragment of double segmenta, embroidered with hares alternated to fishes. 9 grams total including package, 60-64 mm
Acquired 1970s-1996. Property of a North American collector. London collection, 2016.
The iconography of this fragment is called "Nilotic," as it depicts plant and human elements linked to life on the Nile River. These images are very recurrent on Coptic textiles. Weavers created patterns that allowed them to reproduce these motifs on any type of fabric (curtains, tassels, clothing). -
Egyptian Eye of Horus Amulet
Late Period, 664-332 B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £286
Large wedjat-eye amulet with incised human and falcon elements. 7.64 grams, 33.6 mm
with Archaeologia, Switzerland, before 1983. Ex private North American collection. London private collection, 2016. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.13162-242767. -
Large Egyptian Coptic Textile Fragment
Circa 4th-8th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £169
Very large tunic fragment with a clavus connected by a thin band to the orbiculus, in red purple, brown and red granate wool over linen, S torsion, embroidered with three tondos decorated with stylised images of dancers with raised heads and curly hair; crenellated borders. 108 grams total including package, 30 cm
Acquired 1970s-1996. Property of a North American collector. London collection, 2016.
This type of embroidery was typical of tunics and garments characterised by full-length clavi, decorated with either intricate geometric patterns or with a multitude of small figures and animals, often edged with geometric borders and finished with thick, weft-loop fringes or cords.
