Photo © President and Fellows of Harvard College
Unable to open [object Object]: HTTP 0 attempting to load TileSource: https://ids.lib.harvard.edu/ids/iiif/18712028/info.json
Photo © President and Fellows of Harvard College
This object does not yet have a description.

Identification and Creation

Object Number
1931.41
Title
Textile Band with Nereids and Animals
Classification
Textile Arts
Work Type
textile
Date
6th century
Places
Creation Place: Africa, Egypt
Period
Byzantine period
Culture
Byzantine
Persistent Link
https://hvrd.art/o/215210

Physical Descriptions

Medium
Wool, tapestry woven
Technique
Woven, tapestry weave
Dimensions
12.38 x 52.07 cm (4 7/8 x 20 1/2 in.)

Acquisition and Rights

Credit Line
Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Gift of Charles Bain Hoyt
Accession Year
1931
Object Number
1931.41
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 monochrome tapestry woven band decorated with three medallions containing animal and plant forms. Two human figures appear between each circle. These figures appear to be nereids riding on the scaled backs of sea monsters. Behind the head of the left nereid in each pair is a basket of fruit or flowers. The design of the nereids is executed more clearly and with greater legibility towards the right side of the band.

The leftmost medallion contains a tree and four birds; the orientation of this medallion differs from that of the other two. The center medallion represents a feline standing at the base of a tree. The rightmost medallion contains two animals facing opposite directions and has the form of a stylized wreath. The three medallions represent vines, with tendrils extending outward at four places on each circle. This is particularly evident in the rightmost medallion, where the scrolling light-colored vine that creates the circle is most clearly articulated.

Reddish warps.

This textile fragment might possibly represent the clavus of a tunic.

There is an area of plain weave below the tapestry band. An area of weft faced tabby weave with dark blue wefts is above the tapestry band.

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