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Fragment of a hanging
Late Roman
Late Roman or Early Byzantine
400–500
Medium/Technique
Linen plain weave with polychrome wool weft pile loops
Dimensions
97.5 x 131 cm (38 3/8 x 51 9/16 in.)
Credit Line
Charles Potter Kling Fund
Accession Number49.313
NOT ON VIEW
CollectionsAncient Greece and Rome, Fashion and Textiles
ClassificationsTextiles
A large scale figure of a banquet attendant holds a ladle and a bowl of red wine. He has long blonde hair and wears the dress of a Roman servant (short tunic with vertical bands, shoulder roundels, belt, tights and shoes). Roses strewn about the doorway reflect the custom of scattering rose petals for important banquets and festivals. The columns are decorated with garlands of yellow and orange flowers. In the elite houses of this period, hangings such as these were used to separate rooms or sections of rooms, as well as to mark doorways.
DescriptionA very rare large wall hanging in excellent condition. A male attendant with blonde long locks stands in a doorway or arcade. He wears a yellow tunic decorated with purple panels (segmenta) and shorter clavii, jeweled belt, green leggings and orange shoes. He holds a ladle and a bowl filled with red wine and resembles servants represented on several floor mosaics in North Africa. There are roses strewn about the figure and floral garlands in orange and red decorate the columns.
Provenance1949, sold by Melanie (Mrs. Paul) Mallon, Paris and New York, to the MFA. (Accession Date: April 14, 1949)