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LOT 0546
Egyptian Coptic Textile Fragment of a Tunic Tablion with Pegasus
CIRCA 7TH CENTURY A.D.
4 1/8 in. (1.3 grams, 10.5 cm).
In natural wool in shades of light brown, yellow, green, blue, and red with S-twist yarn, depicting the figure of Pegasus within a central medallion, surrounded by geometric and vegetal motifs; borders ornamented with meanders. [No Reserve]
ProvenanceAcquired 1970s-1996.
Property of a North American collector.
London collection, 2016.
Cf. Del Francia Barocas, L., Museo dell'Alto Medioevo, Roma, I materiali Copti, pp.148-149, nos.32 A-B, for a similar textile.
FootnotesThe tabula, or tablion, was a square embroidery used to decorate tunics or mantles. The central figure is a rare representation of the winged horse Pegasus, a motif derived from Greek mythology, showing that classical iconography was still alive among the Christian Graeco-Roman people.
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LOT 0546
Egyptian Coptic Textile Fragment of a Tunic Tablion with Pegasus
Estimate £40 - 60€46 - 70 (for guidance only)$54 - 81 (for guidance only)
Opening Bid
£5 (EUR 6; USD 7) +BP*
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Egyptian Mounted Coptic Tunic Textile Fragment of a Tablion with Animals
Circa 4th-7th century A.D.Estimate: £60 - 80 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £5
In purple wool and coarse linen, S-torsion, embroidered with an image of a horse and a flying putto, the borders decorated with meanders; mounted on linen backing. 54 grams total, 14 cm
Acquired 1970s-1996. Property of a North American collector. London collection, 2016.
The tabula, or tablion, was a square embroidery decorating tunics and mantles. These fabrics were of great decorative finesse, displaying an unusual and extremely well-preserved colour palette. The animal design recalls Iranian motifs, while the flying putto combines Dionysiac and Christian figurative elements. -
Egyptian Terracotta Funerary Cone of Ineni
New Kingdom, 18th Dynasty, circa 1514-1458 B.C.Estimate: £400 - 600 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £5
Large portion of a tapering cone with the circular flat end impressed with four horizontal lines of hieroglyphic text reading: 'Count, overseer of the (double) granary of Amun, overseer of all the sealed things in the domain of Amun, scribe, Inen(i), true of voice'. 755 grams, 13.8 cm
Acquired from Abdoul Rassoul on the West Bank at Luxor, 1974-1980 when a guest lecturer. From the private collection of Peter Clayton, FCILIP, Dip, Arch, FSA, FRNS, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, UK; formed since the late 1950s.
Ineni enjoyed a long and highly successful career, serving under five pharaohs (Amenhotep I, Thutmosis I, Thutmosis II, Hatshepsut, and Thutmosis III). His large rock-cut tomb (TT 81) is at Sheikh Abd el-Qurna, Thebes. -
Large Egyptian Black-Topped Vase Fragment
Predynastic Period, Naqada II, circa 3900–3400 B.C.Estimate: £20 - 30 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £5
Curved in section with applied findspot label 'Abydos Ur(sic) el Gaab'. 166 grams, 13.6 cm
Found at Umm el-Ga'ab, Abydos, Egypt. From the private collection of Peter Clayton, FCILIP, Dip, Arch, FSA, FRNS, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, UK; formed since the late 1950s.
Umm el-Qa'ab is Arabic for 'mother of pots', referring to the mounds of Predynastic and later pottery left by ancient pilgrims and more recent excavators.