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A rectangular textile fragment that features four roundels with animals.

A horizontal rectangular beige tapestry has two horizontal bands on the top and bottom, each ended by a vertical dark blue or purple rectangle. In the same color, a design of horizontally interlocking vines creates four circles in each band, containing two animals in each circle, one larger animal in the background and a smaller one in the foreground. The first three circles from the left, in both bands, show the animals facing the right, while the rightmost circles show the animals facing to the left. Among the animals depicted seem to be rabbits, goats, gazelles, and felines. Their open mouths show their tongues in red.

Identification and Creation

Object Number
2004.204
Title
Cuff band with animals in interlocking scrolls
Classification
Textile Arts
Work Type
textile
Date
Late 4th-early 5th century
Places
Creation Place: Africa, Egypt
Period
Byzantine period, Early
Culture
Byzantine
Persistent Link
https://hvrd.art/o/54963

Location

Location
Level 3, Room 3620, University Study Gallery
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Physical Descriptions

Medium
Wool and linen, tapestry weave
Technique
Woven
Dimensions
sight: 19.7 × 30.2 cm (7 3/4 × 11 7/8 in.)

Provenance

Recorded Ownership History
From the collection of Lilian and Benjamin Hertzberg.

Acquisition and Rights

Credit Line
Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Gift of Benjamin and Lilian Hertzberg
Accession Year
2004
Object Number
2004.204
Division
Asian and Mediterranean Art
Contact
am_asianmediterranean@harvard.edu
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Descriptions

Description
This fragment’s size and double band design suggests that it originally ornamented the sleeve cuff of a tunic. The bands are figured as inhabited grape vine scrolls; each roundel of the vine scrolls holds a pair of running animals, including rabbits, goats, gazelles, and felines. The rightmost pairs face opposite to the rest, interrupting the flow of movement from left to right and introducing a chaotic energy to the composition. Red yarn details emphasize the animals’ panting tongues.

The bands are tapestry woven, however the fabric between, above, and below the bands is plain/tabby woven. Supplementary weft wrapping in a light colored thread creates details on the roundels, animals, and grape leaves.
Commentary
Very similar to Museum für Angewandte Kunst T 676. Also compare KMKG-MRAH ACO.Tx.0266 from Akhmim

Publication History

  • Mary McWilliams and Jochen Sokoly, Social Fabrics: Inscribed Textiles from Medieval Egyptian Tombs, exh. cat. (Cambridge, MA, February 22, 2022), pp. 52, 104-5, cat. 21

Exhibition History

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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