Advanced Search 
Cover
Egyptian (found at Akmin, Panopolis)
Late Roman-Early Byzantine
4th–5th century
Findspot: Akmin, Egypt
Medium/Technique
Undyed linen and colored wool--Ground of undyed linen in plain weave with five roundels and two pairs of stripes in tapestry weave in purple wool and undyed linen.
Warp: undyed linen [S-spun].
Weft: undyed linen; tapestry roundels, stripes: undyed linen and purple wool [all S-spun]; Weft wrapping (flying shuttle) in undyed linen
Warp: undyed linen [S-spun].
Weft: undyed linen; tapestry roundels, stripes: undyed linen and purple wool [all S-spun]; Weft wrapping (flying shuttle) in undyed linen
Dimensions
Overall: 312.4 x 222.3 cm (123 x 87 1/2 in.)
Credit Line
Gift of Denman Waldo Ross and Gift of Charles Greely Loring
Accession Number94.120
NOT ON VIEW
ClassificationsTextiles
DescriptionThis nearly fully preserved large linen cloth is said to come from Akhmim/Panopolis. The plain cloth of undyed linen has self-bands on both ends and five roundels and two pairs of strips, one on each end, in dark brown/’purple’ wool woven-in as inserts in tapestry weave. All roundels have ‘beaded’ outer borders, the rest of their decoration in weft-wrapping [flying shuttle technique] varies. The central roundel is largest, with a main inner field of overlapping octagons with delicate abstract fillers surrounded in a border of alternating circles and squares-on-points on linen ground with filler dots inside and in interstices. The other four roundels are identical with the main fields of overlapping circles with inner fillers and the borders of two-stranded guilloche of knotted and beaded pattern.
Four outer strips consist of narrow guilloche bands with fillers and borders of alternating larger and smaller dots.
Four outer strips consist of narrow guilloche bands with fillers and borders of alternating larger and smaller dots.