Collection Item – Teece Museum of Classical Antiquities

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From:UC Teece Museum of Classical Antiquities

Name/TitleTapestry

About this objectThis fragment of tapestry dates to the 7th Century AD, during the Coptic period in Egypt. This was the time when religion in Egypt was shifting towards Christianity, before the Muslims conquered the region. The designs of Coptic textiles had a strong influence on early Islamic decorative patterns.

The fragment has a yellow background with a brown pattern and orange detailing. The central decoration is a repeating pattern of stylised figures wearing crested helmets and holding an object in their raised right hand. The three rows of figures are offset from each other so that each figure stands in the gap between the ones below. Above and below the figures is a stylised plant border.

This fragment may have come from a piece of clothing that would have had tapestry bands sewn on in decoration.

Date Made7th Century AD

PeriodCoptic

Place MadeEgypt

Medium and MaterialsTextile: Wool

Style and IconographyCoptic

TechniqueWeaving

TechniqueTapestry (process)

MeasurementsLength 265mm; Width 120mm

Subject and Association KeywordsPlants in art

Subject and Association KeywordsFigurative art

Subject and Association KeywordsRepetition (aesthetics)

Named CollectionThe James Logie Memorial Collection, University of Canterbury, New Zealand

Credit LinePurchased, 1975

Object TypeTapestry

Object number160.74