Egypt, Coptic Culture, ca. 7th to 8th century CE. A fascinating textile, hand-woven with black thread on beige-hued linen to display a decorative ovoid. Surrounded by an abstract floral motif border, the central scene depicts abstract figures who face away from one another while a large eye gazes out from the top. The field is adorned with stylized snakes, fish, birds, and wings. Size (design): 5.3" W x 6" H (13.5 cm x 15.2 cm); (textile): 7.2" W x 9" H (18.3 cm x 22.9 cm); (frame): 8.3" W x 10.2" H (21.1 cm x 25.9 cm)

Textiles were produced by Copts and other weavers throughout the Byzantine Empire; ones like this were preserved by being buried in arid Egyptian graves and represent some of our oldest known decorated cloth. This was probably a piece of a tunic, the most common garment worn in Egypt at the time. Coptic craftsmen drew design motifs, like the dancers shown here, from a wide variety of images relating to life in the Eastern Mediterranean: Greco-Roman myths, pastoral scenes from the Nile River, Syrian and Persian depictions of the hunt; and celebratory or monumental civic occasions; all of these combined to make a uniquely detailed and joyful artistic tradition.

Provenance: ex-private Tucson, Arizona, USA collection, acquired prior to 1980

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.

PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance), we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia or Germany, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm.

Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping.

#170016

Has not been examined outside of frame. Design has been cut out from original textile and sewn into another. Some light staining and fraying. Otherwise, excellent with nice remaining pigments. Fit in modern frame with suspension wire on verso.