Hanging
700-1000 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This fragmented linen cloth has an all-over abstract design woven with a discontinous supplementary weft of blue wool. The cloth was part of a large donation from H Martyn Kennard Esq. through Flinders Petrie in 1889. Kennard was wealthy and a keen amateur Egyptologist, who sponsored several of Petrie's excavations in Egypt.
Many cloths of this type have been recovered in Egypt although at the present we are not certain of their original function. This specific textile might have served originally as a hanging as both sides are tidy. These cloths were found in burials, most of them already used, either wrapping or covering the dead.
Many cloths of this type have been recovered in Egypt although at the present we are not certain of their original function. This specific textile might have served originally as a hanging as both sides are tidy. These cloths were found in burials, most of them already used, either wrapping or covering the dead.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Linen and wool brocading |
| Brief description | Linen cloth with blue wool brocading, 700-1000, Egypt |
| Physical description | Fragments of linen cloth with a repeating all-over abstract design "brocaded" in blue wool. The design is a diamond grid keeping in its centre small crosses. The decoration, framed by self-coloured line, ceases a little way in from the selvedge. The discontinous supplementary weft goes under 1 over 3. |
| Dimensions |
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| Credit line | Given by H M Kennard, Esq., per Flinders Petrie |
| Object history | Coarse linen and loose weave (see 284-1887 and T.98-1922) but tidy back, could be shown both sides - hence possible being used as a hanging. The cloth was given to the Museum by H Martyn Kennard Esq. per Mr. Flinders Petrie. Kennard was a wealthy enthusiast and sponsored Petrie's excavations in Egypt. |
| Historical context | The weaving technique is not strictly speaking a brocading but similar to the Swedish traditional weaving called dukagång, which is with discontinous supplementary weft, also called swivel weave. This can easily be confused with embroidery as long ends are left on the back. Weaving took place with back up. |
| Summary | This fragmented linen cloth has an all-over abstract design woven with a discontinous supplementary weft of blue wool. The cloth was part of a large donation from H Martyn Kennard Esq. through Flinders Petrie in 1889. Kennard was wealthy and a keen amateur Egyptologist, who sponsored several of Petrie's excavations in Egypt. Many cloths of this type have been recovered in Egypt although at the present we are not certain of their original function. This specific textile might have served originally as a hanging as both sides are tidy. These cloths were found in burials, most of them already used, either wrapping or covering the dead. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 417-1889 |
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| Record created | May 8, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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