Tunic
5th century (made)
Place of origin |
Linen tunic, with ornaments tapestry-woven in purple and yellow wool, and undyed linen thread. The shoulder-bands, which are short, reaching to the waist, have foliated circles enclosing alternately an animal or an interlacing ornament; the ends are each divided into three narrow bands, that in the middle filled with guilloche ornament, and the others with vine-stems and grapes. The neck-opening is bordered at back and front with a row of circles containing alternately an animal or an eight-pointed star with five dancing figures below an arcade. Foliations fill the arches and over them is a row of pointed compartments enclosing circular devices; in some of the spandrels is an animal or a bird. The square panels on the shoulders, and at both back and front near the lower edge, contain eight-pointed stars surrounded by borders of animals and birds in circles.
The yellow wool is only used for details of the pattern. The 'eight-pointed stars' are perhaps superimposed crosses. At one end the arcade is incomplete; the last figure is smaller, and has an ornamental circle above it.
The yellow wool is only used for details of the pattern. The 'eight-pointed stars' are perhaps superimposed crosses. At one end the arcade is incomplete; the last figure is smaller, and has an ornamental circle above it.
Object details
Categories | |
Object type | |
Materials and techniques | |
Brief description | linen, Coptic Egyptian; coloured wools; bands of flowers, animals |
Physical description | Linen tunic, with ornaments tapestry-woven in purple and yellow wool, and undyed linen thread. The shoulder-bands, which are short, reaching to the waist, have foliated circles enclosing alternately an animal or an interlacing ornament; the ends are each divided into three narrow bands, that in the middle filled with guilloche ornament, and the others with vine-stems and grapes. The neck-opening is bordered at back and front with a row of circles containing alternately an animal or an eight-pointed star with five dancing figures below an arcade. Foliations fill the arches and over them is a row of pointed compartments enclosing circular devices; in some of the spandrels is an animal or a bird. The square panels on the shoulders, and at both back and front near the lower edge, contain eight-pointed stars surrounded by borders of animals and birds in circles. The yellow wool is only used for details of the pattern. The 'eight-pointed stars' are perhaps superimposed crosses. At one end the arcade is incomplete; the last figure is smaller, and has an ornamental circle above it. |
Dimensions |
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Object history | 631-1886 to 922-1886 inclusive purchased for £300 from Henry Wallis. |
Association | |
Summary | Linen tunic, with ornaments tapestry-woven in purple and yellow wool, and undyed linen thread. The shoulder-bands, which are short, reaching to the waist, have foliated circles enclosing alternately an animal or an interlacing ornament; the ends are each divided into three narrow bands, that in the middle filled with guilloche ornament, and the others with vine-stems and grapes. The neck-opening is bordered at back and front with a row of circles containing alternately an animal or an eight-pointed star with five dancing figures below an arcade. Foliations fill the arches and over them is a row of pointed compartments enclosing circular devices; in some of the spandrels is an animal or a bird. The square panels on the shoulders, and at both back and front near the lower edge, contain eight-pointed stars surrounded by borders of animals and birds in circles. The yellow wool is only used for details of the pattern. The 'eight-pointed stars' are perhaps superimposed crosses. At one end the arcade is incomplete; the last figure is smaller, and has an ornamental circle above it. |
Collection | |
Accession number | 633-1886 |
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Record created | June 24, 2009 |
Record URL |
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