Author
Unknown
Publication Date
400
Publication Place
Egypt (made) -
Subject
Archaeology Africa Death Textiles
Type
Other
Language
Undetermined
Digital
Yes
Manuscript
No
Physical Dimensions
Length: 220mm, Width: 110mm
Library
Victoria and Albert Museum
Library Asset ID
2067-1900
Record ID
2067-1900
Library Location
Middle East Section
Date
400
Notes
Woven silk fragment, damaged. Egyptian, ca. AD400-600. The fragment has a green design on undyed silk. It is edged on two sides with a fringe to create selvedge and a bottom border. The design is bordered within a square and on each side there is a row of floral/heart shapes. The design on one side is a mirror image of the other side and in the centre is a vertical row of floral shapes. The design is of a huntsman, with a cloak, on horseback and holding a staff/club held high in one hand. An eagle sits above the horse's head. Below the huntsman is a man dressed in a skirt and holding a spear (?) across his body, there is a tree on one side and a bird (stork?) on the other. The warp is undyed; approx. 16x31 tpc, Z-spun. There is a hole in one side, along some of the central floral stripe and there is a diagonal strip of damage across the piece. The imagery includes a number of elements. The Romans marched under the Eagle standard while for Christians the eagle was a symbol of St John the Evangelist. The huntsmen are dressed so that the battle they fight is mortal and not spiritual with a hunt symbolising an attempt to chase evil our out one's life. The tree may be the Tree of Life, which was a common motif in Coptic art.
Malzemeler ve teknikler
Woven silk Silk (Textile) Weaving Dyeing
Parçalar
Textile Fragment, Backing
Fiziksel açıklama
Woven silk fragment, damaged. The fragment has a green design on undyed silk. It is edged on two sides with a fringe to create selvedge and a bottom border. The design is bordered within a square and on each side there is a row of floral/heart shapes. The design on one side is a mirror image of the other side and in the centre is a vertical row of floral shapes. The design is of a huntsman, with a cloak, on horseback and holding a staff/club held high in one hand. An eagle sits above the horse's head. Below the huntsman is a man dressed in a skirt and holding a spear (?) across his body, there is a tree on one side and a bird (stork?) on the other. The warp is undyed; approx. 16x31 tpc, Z-spun. There is a hole in one side, along some of the central floral stripe and there is a diagonal strip of damage across the piece.
Üslup
Late Antique
