A GROUP OF COPTIC TEXTILE TUNIC FRAGMENTS, including a late Coptic clavus band fragment, the central frieze with stylized vine scroll forming alternating square and circular tondos containing either Dionysos beside a pillar, a floral vase or a seated figure holding an ibex head, details woven in dark blue and light purple wools, strip of red woven wool tunic to either side of band -- 9¾ x 7 in. (24.7 x 17.8 cm.), 10th Century A.D.; a medallion with crenellated borders, embroidered in a fine white and undyed thread with an interlacing cable pattern and central rosette, on dark mauve background -- 5¾ in. (14.5 cm.) diam., 3rd-4th Century A.D.; another with details woven in dark blue, row of encircling tondos each containing an animal around central motif of a standing eagle -- 4¾ in. (12 cm.) diam. approx., 4th-5th Century A.D.; a band fragment woven with stylized depiction of two dancers against black background -- 4 x 2¾ in. (10.2 x 7 cm.); a fragment of a head woven with loops of coloured wool -- approx. 4 in. (10.2 cm.) across, circa 5th-6th Century A.D.; a circular medallion with central tondo containing six winged cherubs, against dark brown background -- 5 in. (12.7 cm.) diam. av., 6th-7th Century A.D.; a fragmentry band woven in brightly coloured wools depicting central frieze containing a running animal, the border with alternating blocks of colour, dark blue outlines -- 4 x 3 in. (10.1 x 7.6 cm.), 7th Century A.D.; two short parallel bands from sleeve cuff, containing foliate motifs interspersed with orant figures, woven in pale blue/mauve wool -- 8¼ x 3¾ in. (21 x 9.5 cm.), circa 8th Century A.D.; a pair of fragments each containing a leaf-shaped motif from end of clavus band, against red background, wave pattern around the border and enclosing stylized foliate and animal motifs, dark blue woven details -- 9½ x 7 in. (24.1 x 17.8 cm.) max.; and another similar, against dark brown background with border of three vertical undyed stripes to one side, details within pendant in dark mauve -- 12 x 8 in. (35 x 20.3 cm.), circa 8th-10th Century A.D. (16)

Details

A GROUP OF COPTIC TEXTILE TUNIC FRAGMENTS, including a late Coptic clavus band fragment, the central frieze with stylized vine scroll forming alternating square and circular tondos containing either Dionysos beside a pillar, a floral vase or a seated figure holding an ibex head, details woven in dark blue and light purple wools, strip of red woven wool tunic to either side of band -- 9¾ x 7 in. (24.7 x 17.8 cm.), 10th Century A.D.; a medallion with crenellated borders, embroidered in a fine white and undyed thread with an interlacing cable pattern and central rosette, on dark mauve background -- 5¾ in. (14.5 cm.) diam., 3rd-4th Century A.D.; another with details woven in dark blue, row of encircling tondos each containing an animal around central motif of a standing eagle -- 4¾ in. (12 cm.) diam. approx., 4th-5th Century A.D.; a band fragment woven with stylized depiction of two dancers against black background -- 4 x 2¾ in. (10.2 x 7 cm.); a fragment of a head woven with loops of coloured wool -- approx. 4 in. (10.2 cm.) across, circa 5th-6th Century A.D.; a circular medallion with central tondo containing six winged cherubs, against dark brown background -- 5 in. (12.7 cm.) diam. av., 6th-7th Century A.D.; a fragmentry band woven in brightly coloured wools depicting central frieze containing a running animal, the border with alternating blocks of colour, dark blue outlines -- 4 x 3 in. (10.1 x 7.6 cm.), 7th Century A.D.; two short parallel bands from sleeve cuff, containing foliate motifs interspersed with orant figures, woven in pale blue/mauve wool -- 8¼ x 3¾ in. (21 x 9.5 cm.), circa 8th Century A.D.; a pair of fragments each containing a leaf-shaped motif from end of clavus band, against red background, wave pattern around the border and enclosing stylized foliate and animal motifs, dark blue woven details -- 9½ x 7 in. (24.1 x 17.8 cm.) max.; and another similar, against dark brown background with border of three vertical undyed stripes to one side, details within pendant in dark mauve -- 12 x 8 in. (35 x 20.3 cm.), circa 8th-10th Century A.D. (16)

Sale room notice

Item 5, the face fragment is not ancient.

Lot Essay

Item one: for virtually complete tunic with similar decorative bands cf. D. Thompson, Coptic Textiles in the Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn, 1971, p. 84, no. 37.

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