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Details
LOT 0511
Egyptian Coptic Textile Fragment Group
CIRCA 6TH-7TH CENTURY A.D.
5 1/8 - 9 3/4 in. (114 grams total including package, 13-24.6 cm).
Comprising: a large fragment of a segmentum in linen and wool, S torsion, fringed borders, embroidered with vegetal ornaments; a purple on linen tabula with geometric decoration; a fragment of a segmentum in wool and linen, with circular embroidery; and a large fragment of a tablion, ornamented with images of fishes, birds and vegetal patterns in red, green, yellow and dark blue wool, the central tondo missing. [4, No Reserve]
Provenance
Acquired 1970s-1996.
Property of a North American collector.
London collection, 2016.
Literature
Cf. Del Francia Barocas, L., Museo dell'Alto Medioevo, Roma, I materiali Copti, pp.148-149, for similar textiles.
Footnotes
Water plant elements are scattered across the bottom of the tablion, which is decorated with water birds; these decorations likely surrounded the image of a nereid. These abstract decorations show a strong stylisation often giving the marine animals a plant-like appearance.
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Egyptian Coptic Textile Fragment
Circa 7th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £156
Large fragment of tapestry, comprising two segmenta, in red granate wool and coarse linen, on green wool background, S-Z torsion, embroidered with stylised birds, palmettes and other vegetal ornaments, the borders of both segmenta decorated with meanders. 103 grams total including package, 31 cm
Acquired 1970s-1996. Property of a North American collector. London collection, 2016.
This fabric was probably part of a wall tapestry or of a large garment. In 7th century A.D., the stylisation was always more evident on the embroidery of the Coptic textiles, especially when the Arab conquest banned the imagery of the Graeco-Roman world. The decoration was mostly concentrated on geometric ornaments or images of stylised animals.
