Textile Fragment thumbnail 1
Textile Fragment thumbnail 2
+1
images
Not currently on display at the V&A

Textile Fragment

4th Century - 7th Century (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This is a fragment from a type of textile known to have been used for cushion and mattress covers. This fragment is likely to have been cut from a mattress cover in modern times. The decoration is composed of repeating bands with a complex chequer design taking the place of the simple motifs in contrasting colours that are more typical of this weave. Certain technical characteristics, in particular the fact that the compound structure continues on through the plain cherry-red bands, set this textile aside from the majority of finds in this weave. Although discovered in Egypt, it may have been made elsewhere.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Weft-faced compound plain weave
Brief description
Fragment of a mattress or cushion cover, wool, weft-faced compound plain weave (polymita), Akhmim, Egypt, 4th Century - 7th Century
Physical description
Fragment from a mattress or cushion cover, wool, in weft-faced plain weave. The fragment is in chequered green wool in two shades, separated by narrow red wool stripes.
Dimensions
  • Height: 180mm
  • Width: 115mm
Styles
Marks and inscriptions
  • Transliteration
Gallery label
  • WOOLLENS, 4th-7th century AD. West-faced compound tabby. Warp proportion: 1 main, 1 binding end. Weft of 2-3 colours, 1 pick of each in turn. Wool spun S, except for red and light green picks in chequered piece, which are Z. This piece was found in Akhmîm, the smallest piece at Qau-el-Kebir, near Asyut, and the rest at unrecorded sites iN Egypt. This piece was purchased ion 1886.
  • WOOLLENS, 4th - 7th century Ad. Weft-faced compound tabby. Warp proportion : 1 main, 1 binding end. Weft of 2-3 colours, 1 pick of each in turn. Wool spun S, except for red and light green picks in checkered piece, which are Z. This piece was found in Akhmîm, the smallest piece at Qau-el-Kebir, near Asyut, and the rest at unrecorded sites in Egypt. This work was purchased in 1886<#caret>
Object history
631-1886 to 922-1886 inclusive purchased for £300 from Henry Wallis.

Displayed in the exhibition Constantine The Great: York's Roman Emperor, Yorkshire Museum, 31 March - 29 October 2006
Production
Hartley et al. (see references) argue that the design and two-tone effect of this piece is in imitation of contemporary silks.
Association
Summary
This is a fragment from a type of textile known to have been used for cushion and mattress covers. This fragment is likely to have been cut from a mattress cover in modern times. The decoration is composed of repeating bands with a complex chequer design taking the place of the simple motifs in contrasting colours that are more typical of this weave. Certain technical characteristics, in particular the fact that the compound structure continues on through the plain cherry-red bands, set this textile aside from the majority of finds in this weave. Although discovered in Egypt, it may have been made elsewhere.
Bibliographic reference
E. Hartley, J. Hawkes, M. Henig with F. Mee, Constantine The Great: York's Roman Emperor (York, 2006): 188-9 No. 170
Collection
Accession number
899-1886

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdDecember 10, 2007
Record URL
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest