Tunic thumbnail 1
Tunic thumbnail 2
Not currently on display at the V&A

Tunic

6th/8th century (made)
Place of origin

Portion of a linen tunic, with parts of two shoulder-bands, two squares and a lower border, all tapestry-woven in coloured wools and linen thread on linen warps. The upright bands have each a row of circles containing men struggling with lions, or lions attacking antelopes. Smaller intervening circles contain birds, and to the right and left of these are floral devices of triangular form. The background is red; that of the medallions is alternately red and orange. There are double borders of floral forms and geometrical ornament in polychrome. The lower band has a row of large circles, each enclosing two horsemen attacking a lion with spears. Smaller intervening circles contain busts, with triangular floral devices above and below. At the extreme right is a nude standing figure. The square panels are incomplete; each contains a circle enclosing two horsemen spearing a wild animal, and birds in the spandrels. The circles on the lower band and the square are outlined by interlaced floral and geometrical ornament. The ground is red. One side only of the tunic is preserved, and the upper part of that is missing.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Brief description
part, linen, Coptic Egyptian; Tapestry woven wool roundels human figures
Physical description
Portion of a linen tunic, with parts of two shoulder-bands, two squares and a lower border, all tapestry-woven in coloured wools and linen thread on linen warps. The upright bands have each a row of circles containing men struggling with lions, or lions attacking antelopes. Smaller intervening circles contain birds, and to the right and left of these are floral devices of triangular form. The background is red; that of the medallions is alternately red and orange. There are double borders of floral forms and geometrical ornament in polychrome. The lower band has a row of large circles, each enclosing two horsemen attacking a lion with spears. Smaller intervening circles contain busts, with triangular floral devices above and below. At the extreme right is a nude standing figure. The square panels are incomplete; each contains a circle enclosing two horsemen spearing a wild animal, and birds in the spandrels. The circles on the lower band and the square are outlined by interlaced floral and geometrical ornament. The ground is red. One side only of the tunic is preserved, and the upper part of that is missing.
Dimensions
  • Length: 3.5in
  • Width: 39in
  • Of shoulder band width: 7in
Object history
Purchased from Caspar Purdon Clarke
Association
Summary
Portion of a linen tunic, with parts of two shoulder-bands, two squares and a lower border, all tapestry-woven in coloured wools and linen thread on linen warps. The upright bands have each a row of circles containing men struggling with lions, or lions attacking antelopes. Smaller intervening circles contain birds, and to the right and left of these are floral devices of triangular form. The background is red; that of the medallions is alternately red and orange. There are double borders of floral forms and geometrical ornament in polychrome. The lower band has a row of large circles, each enclosing two horsemen attacking a lion with spears. Smaller intervening circles contain busts, with triangular floral devices above and below. At the extreme right is a nude standing figure. The square panels are incomplete; each contains a circle enclosing two horsemen spearing a wild animal, and birds in the spandrels. The circles on the lower band and the square are outlined by interlaced floral and geometrical ornament. The ground is red. One side only of the tunic is preserved, and the upper part of that is missing.
Collection
Accession number
363-1887

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Record createdJune 24, 2009
Record URL
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