Coptic-1

Indigenous Egyptian weavers during the Late Roman and Early Byzantine eras produced amazingly intricate textile art. Most of the small tapestry and soumak fragments on these pages originally decorated tunics or 'dalmatics' and were woven in wool or a combination of linen and wool. Because they were preserved in graves under extremely dry, sandy conditions, these fragments are among the earliest textiles available to collectors, as they date from the 4th through 8th centuries. They incorporate a variety of design influences, from Greco-Roman mythology to Christian symbolism. Delicate geometric interlace motifs may have been intended to protect the wearer from the 'evil eye,' while plants, animals, birds, and human figures provide charming naive decoration.

The nearly monochromatic coloring of the 1500- to 1600-year-old tapestries differs from slightly later work that uses a wider range of hues. The single wool color in most of the earliest pieces was originally a dark brownish purple--the 'royal purple' of antiquity--and in most has now faded to brown. The plain-weave tunic grounds were most often natural-colored linen. Typical tunic decoration consisted of narrow bands that extended downwards from the shoulders, pairs of bands on the sleeves, and square, oval or round tapestry inserts on the shoulders and lower front. It is fragments of these elaborate bands and inserts that have survived. A few of the fragments originally decorated curtains, wall hangings, or shawls. Please realize that the dates listed below are only educated guesses. The pieces are unmounted, and furnished in acid-free plastic sleeves.

Click on the inventory numbers below to see larger photos of the textiles. On monitors with a 1024 x 768 resolution, actual-size photos will appear on the individual linked pages, along with magnified versions or details.

Coptic Tunic Insertion
Egypt
5th to 6th century
Linen and wool. 10.7 cm x 11 cm.
Slit tapestry
C-113

Coptic Tunic Decoration
Egypt
5th to 7th century
Linen and wool. 9 cm x 14 cm.
Slit tapestry
C-107

Coptic Curtain Fragment
Egypt
6th to 8th century
Wool and linen
7.5 cm x 24 cm.
Slit tapestry
C-146

Coptic Tunic Decoration
Egypt
5th to 6th century
Wool and linen. 10 cm. x 9.5 cm.
Slit tapestry
C-102

Coptic Tunic Band
Egypt
5th to 6th century
Wool and linen
8.5 cm. x 24 cm.
Slit tapestry
C-133

Coptic Tunic Clavus
Egypt
5th to 7th century
Wool and linen
4.5 cm. x 22 cm.
Slit tapestry, soumak
C-117

Coptic Tunic Roundel Insertion
Egypt
6th to 7th century
Wool and linen
12.5 cm. x 12 cm.
Slit tapestry
C-118

Coptic Tunic Clavus Fragment
Egypt. 6th to 7th century
Wool and linen
7.5 cm. x 17.5 cm.
Slit tapestry
C-124

Coptic Tunic Medallion Fragment
Egypt. 5th to 7th century
Wool and linen
9 cm. x 11 cm.
Soumak and tapestry
C-110

Coptic Tunic Insertion
Egypt. 5th to 7th century
Wool. 8 cm. x 11 cm.
5th to 7th century
Slit tapestry
C-121

Coptic Tunic Decoration
Egypt
6th to 7th century
Wool and linen. 14 cm. x 10 cm.
Slit tapestry
C-123

Coptic Tunic Clavis
Egypt
6th to 7th century
Wool and linen
4.5 cm. x 12 cm.
Slit tapestry
C-114

Coptic Curtain Fragment
Egypt
4th to 7th century
Linen
16.5 cm. x 19 cm.
Resist dyed
C-142

Coptic Tunic Band Fragments
Egypt. 6th to 7th century
Wool and linen. 6.5 cm x 17 cm; 10.5 cm. x 14 cm.; 7 cm. x 27 cm.
Slit tapestry
C-144

Continue: Coptic Textiles - 2

Coptic Textiles - 3

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