Harvard Art Museums > 1985.118: Square with Aphrodite Textile Arts Collections Search Exit Deep Zoom Mode Zoom Out Zoom In Reset Zoom Full Screen Add to Collection Order Image Copy Link Copy Citation Citation"Square with Aphrodite , 1985.118,” Harvard Art Museums collections online, Apr 29, 2024, https://hvrd.art/o/174359. Reuse via IIIF Toggle Deep Zoom Mode Download This object does not yet have a description. Identification and Creation Object Number 1985.118 Title Square with Aphrodite Classification Textile Arts Work Type textile Date 5th-6th century Places Creation Place: Ancient & Byzantine World, Africa, Egypt (Ancient) Period Byzantine period, Early Culture Byzantine Persistent Link https://hvrd.art/o/174359 Physical Descriptions Medium Wool and linen Technique Woven, tapestry weave Dimensions 25 x 22.3 cm (9 13/16 x 8 3/4 in.) Acquisition and Rights Credit Line Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Gift of Nanette B. Rodney Accession Year 1985 Object Number 1985.118 Division Asian and Mediterranean Art Contact am_asianmediterranean@harvard.edu Permissions The Harvard Art Museums encourage the use of images found on this website for personal, noncommercial use, including educational and scholarly purposes. To request a higher resolution file of this image, please submit an online request. Descriptions Description A tapestry woven tabula with a red square at center. Within the red square stands a nude female figure, meant to represent Aphrodite, with yellow drapery and blond curls. She holds a mirror in her right hand and gazes into it. Smaller figures (putti) stand on either side of her acting as attendants. The putto on the right holds out a small orange wreath with which to crown Aphrodite. Around this scene runs a brown border. Outside the inner square is an orange field containing an arrangement of roundels, plants, and birds. In each corner of the square sits a small red medallion outlined in white containing a putto that may be carrying fish or other symbols of abundance. Between the roundels are blue vases (kantharoi) with pink and red collars; from each vase emerge two, symmetrical coiling vines that end in bunches of purple grapes. The kantharoi on the left and right sides of the square have pairs of birds sitting amongst vines. The kantharoi at top and bottom have pairs of birds flanking them, again sitting in vines. The square has a dark blue outer border with geometric palmettes and dots; tendrils and leaves sprout from each corner. At the very top of the fragment might be a reinforced selvedge. Warps run perpendicular to the orientation of the square. Weft wrapping closes the largest slits in the tapestry. Commentary This textile closely resembles the Cleveland Museum of Art’s 1926.150 from the collection of George D. Pratt. From looking at this piece, which is in much better condition, it becomes clear that the figure at the center of the tabula likely represents Aphrodite gazing into a mirror with putti attendants. The compositions of these two pieces are nearly identical, as are the colors and sizes of the squares; the weaving and pictorial design on the Cleveland square is slightly finer however, and the warps run in different directions in the two examples. Verification Level This record was created from historic documentation and may not have been reviewed by a curator; it may be inaccurate or incomplete. Our records are frequently revised and enhanced. For more information please contact the Division of Asian and Mediterranean Art at am_asianmediterranean@harvard.edu
