Panel
6th century (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This panel features Orpheus depicted in a roundel set within a rectangle. Seated in a three-quarters pose facing left, Orpheus holds his distinguishing attribute, a lyre, and is dressed in a short tunic, trousers, boots and a conical ('Phrygian') cap. He is surrounded by four erotes/putti. The upper two are winged; the one on the left holds a cornucopia and the one on the right a bird. All five figures are depicted in a stylized form with large eyes and pronounced dark pupils.
The entire field of the roundel is densely filled with animals including a dog, a lion and a horse above Orpheus' head, and a leopard, ox/?? CHECK OBJECT griffin and stag in the lower half. Each of the corner spandrels of the piece contain a bird or animal. Both the roundel and rectangle are each bordered with a fillet. The outer edge of the rectangle is finished with a running wave design.
The design is executed in red wool on a background of undyed linen. The figures have considerable detail and are heavily outlined with an extra linen yarn (2-plied and applied in soumac technique).
Technical analysis:
warp: indyed linen (S spun), red wool (S spun); weft: undyed linen (S spun), red wool (S spun); undyed S-spun, 2-ply Z linen used for outlines. Tapestry weave over 1-2 warps, ca. 19 warps per 1 cm.
The entire field of the roundel is densely filled with animals including a dog, a lion and a horse above Orpheus' head, and a leopard, ox/?? CHECK OBJECT griffin and stag in the lower half. Each of the corner spandrels of the piece contain a bird or animal. Both the roundel and rectangle are each bordered with a fillet. The outer edge of the rectangle is finished with a running wave design.
The design is executed in red wool on a background of undyed linen. The figures have considerable detail and are heavily outlined with an extra linen yarn (2-plied and applied in soumac technique).
Technical analysis:
warp: indyed linen (S spun), red wool (S spun); weft: undyed linen (S spun), red wool (S spun); undyed S-spun, 2-ply Z linen used for outlines. Tapestry weave over 1-2 warps, ca. 19 warps per 1 cm.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 2 parts.
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| Materials and techniques | Red wool and unbleached linen in tapestry weave |
| Brief description | Orpheus playing his lyre to the animals, tapestry weave in undyed linen and red wool, Byzantine Egypt, 6th century AD; woven linen wool, 300-499, Egyptian; Akhmim, tapestry woven |
| Physical description | This panel features Orpheus depicted in a roundel set within a rectangle. Seated in a three-quarters pose facing left, Orpheus holds his distinguishing attribute, a lyre, and is dressed in a short tunic, trousers, boots and a conical ('Phrygian') cap. He is surrounded by four erotes/putti. The upper two are winged; the one on the left holds a cornucopia and the one on the right a bird. All five figures are depicted in a stylized form with large eyes and pronounced dark pupils. The entire field of the roundel is densely filled with animals including a dog, a lion and a horse above Orpheus' head, and a leopard, ox/?? CHECK OBJECT griffin and stag in the lower half. Each of the corner spandrels of the piece contain a bird or animal. Both the roundel and rectangle are each bordered with a fillet. The outer edge of the rectangle is finished with a running wave design. The design is executed in red wool on a background of undyed linen. The figures have considerable detail and are heavily outlined with an extra linen yarn (2-plied and applied in soumac technique). Technical analysis: warp: indyed linen (S spun), red wool (S spun); weft: undyed linen (S spun), red wool (S spun); undyed S-spun, 2-ply Z linen used for outlines. Tapestry weave over 1-2 warps, ca. 19 warps per 1 cm. |
| Dimensions |
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| Style | |
| Gallery label | Square panel from a linen tunic
About 300-500 AD
Egypt
The Greek hero Orpheus is depicted here with a lyre, reminding us that his music and song had magical powers over nature.
Classical mythology arrived in Egypt through Greek and Roman colonisation and brought about a shift in artistic style and iconography.
Tapestry woven linen and wool
Museum No. 1290-1888(2010) |
| Object history | Purchased from the Reverend Greville John Chester |
| Production | Said to be from Akhmim |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Association | |
| Summary | This panel features Orpheus depicted in a roundel set within a rectangle. Seated in a three-quarters pose facing left, Orpheus holds his distinguishing attribute, a lyre, and is dressed in a short tunic, trousers, boots and a conical ('Phrygian') cap. He is surrounded by four erotes/putti. The upper two are winged; the one on the left holds a cornucopia and the one on the right a bird. All five figures are depicted in a stylized form with large eyes and pronounced dark pupils. The entire field of the roundel is densely filled with animals including a dog, a lion and a horse above Orpheus' head, and a leopard, ox/?? CHECK OBJECT griffin and stag in the lower half. Each of the corner spandrels of the piece contain a bird or animal. Both the roundel and rectangle are each bordered with a fillet. The outer edge of the rectangle is finished with a running wave design. The design is executed in red wool on a background of undyed linen. The figures have considerable detail and are heavily outlined with an extra linen yarn (2-plied and applied in soumac technique). Technical analysis: warp: indyed linen (S spun), red wool (S spun); weft: undyed linen (S spun), red wool (S spun); undyed S-spun, 2-ply Z linen used for outlines. Tapestry weave over 1-2 warps, ca. 19 warps per 1 cm. |
| Bibliographic reference | A.F. Kendrick, Catalogue of Textiles from Burying Grounds in Egypt, Vol. 1. Graeco-Roman Period (London, 1920): 59 No. 42 |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 1290-1888 |
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| Record created | March 3, 2004 |
| Record URL |
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