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LOT 0593
Egyptian Coptic Textile Fragment Group
CIRCA 4TH-6TH CENTURY A.D.
9 - 9 1/4 in. (61 grams total including package, 23-23.5 cm).
Comprising: terminal part of a clavus connected by a thin band to the missing orbiculus in red granate and coarse linen, S torsion, embroidered with stylised birds and palmettes; fragment of fabric, embroidered with two segments, in black, red granate and white wool, over a coarse linen background; the internal part of the segments decorated with motifs of running hares, the linen background with opposed running black hares. [2, 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.208, for a similar clavus.
FootnotesThe clavus and orbiculus ornamented a tunic of white linen, often given to soldiers or member of the military class. The stylised birds possibly represent swans.
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