Egyptian Multi-Stranded Faience Mummy Bead Necklace

The woven textile fragment of linen and wool with a large horizontal decorative band depicting octagonal rosettes inscribed in rhomboids; the rosettes divided by stylised columns decorated with foliage elements; the band edged by two lateral segments formed of octagonal rosettes enclosing flowers, bordered with scalloped geometries; at the bottom four stylised dancers. 285 grams, 60 x 35.5 cm



Acquired 1970s-1996. Property of a North American collector. London collection, 2016.

It is the lower part of a cloak from the Fatimid era. The end of the Coptic period was characterised by a treatment of eight-lobed rosettes, a current motif in Muslim art. The four dancers are made as simple signs.

The decorative border from a garment (cloak?), wool weaving on linen and purple, tendril pattern; the wide, undecorated central red purple panel framed with purple wavy tendrils with arrowhead-shaped leaves. 131 grams, 41.5 x 26 cm



Acquired 1970s-1996. Property of a North American collector. London collection, 2016.

Cloaks and mantles were the main type of outer garments worn by men in late antiquity. They are mentioned in the sources under a variety of names: birrus, caracallus,cucullus, lacerna, sagum, paenula and paludamentum. Unfortunately, despite the fact that cloaks were such important garments they are preserved in far fewer numbers from burials in Egypt than tunics, except as fragments.

Carved with semi-naturalistic anatomical detailing; shallow engraved hieroglyphs to the base. 8.7 grams, 24 mm



From an early 20th century collection, Carnavon, North Wales, UK.