Egyptian Coptic Tunic Textile Fragments of Orbiculi and Segmenta with Geometric Ornament

CIRCA 6TH-7TH CENTURY A.D.

3 - 5 1/4 in. (9.75 grams total, 7.5-13.4 cm).

Comprising: an orbiculus, in red-purple wool and coarse linen, with geometric decoration; a heart-shaped bud in red, dark blue, green, and yellow wool; a fragment of a clavus with plant ornaments, in brown, yellow, green and dark blue purple wool; and a further orbiculus, with a deep blue-violet background and geometric decorative motifs outlined in raw wool, featuring fine honeycomb work and left-hand twist in red, blue, and yellow wool. [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, no.66, pp.230-231, for similar textiles.

Footnotes

The fragments are decorative parts of tunics. These are fabrics of great decorative finesse, with some elements displaying an unusual and extremely well-preserved colour palette. The plant designs are related to the so-called Nilotic decorative pattern.

CONDITION

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LOT 0603