Author
Unknown
Publication Date
300
Publication Place
Egypt (made) -
Subject
Animals Orpheus
Type
Other
Language
Undetermined
Digital
Yes
Manuscript
No
Physical Dimensions
Height: 15.7cm, Width: 13.5cm, Framed height: 39.1cm, Framed width: 36.3cm
Library
Victoria and Albert Museum
Library Asset ID
T.15-1946
Record ID
T.15-1946
Library Location
Middle East Section
Date
300
Notes
This is a rare survival of a design for a woven tapestry from the Romano-Egyptian period, about 4th to 5th century. The design is drawn on papyrus and shows two nude human figures, one probably representing Orpheus, on a circular black field. The main design is surrounded by a white circle with animals in black, the whole included in a black square with four human heads in reserve filling the spandrels. On the left there is a portion of a narrow border with human and plant forms in reserve on black. Patterns such as this could be re-employed when required for the production of several garments. They could be combined with others, or individual motifs could be interchanged among them. This might explain the almost exact repetition of certain designs, and partly accounts for the recurrence of certain popular motifs over centuries.
Tarihsel bağlam
Drawings on papyrus and later on paper, which were found in Egyptian settlement dumps, can be identified as patterns. Such patterns could not only be reemployed as desired for the production of several garments, but could be combined, or individual motifs could be interchanged among them. This might explain the almost exact repetition of certain designs and partly accounts for the somewhat monotonous recurrence of certain popular motifs over centuries.
Malzemeler ve teknikler
Drawing on papyrus Papyrus Drawing
Fiziksel açıklama
Drawing on papyrus: main design of two nude human figures (one with dotted halo), one probably represent Orpheus, all in reserve on circular black field, which is surrounded by a white circle with animals in black, the whole included in a black square with four humad heads in reserve filling the spandrels. On the left: portion of a narrow border with human and plant forms in reserve on black.
Üslup
Late Antique
