Coptic textile fragment, from the 5th – 7th century AD.
Textiles like this one have been produced by Copts (Christian Egyptians) and other weavers throughout the Byzantine Empire.
The performance is difficult to recognize: are the decorations mend to be flowers, roses or vases? An amphora or dophin or other animal? I do not know. Combined with simple geometric motifs.
This is probably a fragment of a clavus, belongs to a tunica. The people of late antiquity were also buried in these kind of garments, and most surviving examples have been found in cemeteries. All the previous owner knew about it was that it was bought in the 1950s by a lady who has since passed away order. She bought it from an Egyptian man who sold such textiles in the Netherlands.
The fabric is made in rips weaving and a tapestry-like technique.
In various shades of red wool and linen.
The last photo shows the back; in former days it was glued on paper.
The fragment measures 16 x 7 and 6 cm (approx. 6.3 x 2.8 amd 2.3 inches.)
The last photo shows the condition.
All the previous owner knew about it was that it was bought in the 1950s by a lady who has since passed away. She bought it from an Egyptian man who sold such textiles in the Netherlands.
Product code: Coptic textile fragment 5th-7th c. Egypt order