CIRCA 7TH-8TH CENTURY A.D.

Details

A COPTIC FRAGMENTARY TEXTILE HANGING OF A HORSEMAN
CIRCA 7TH-8TH CENTURY A.D.
The equestrian figure or Saint wearing a red belted tunic with chequerboard cloak across his shoulders, seated on a saddle cloth, the horse with decorated trappings, a Greek cross in the field, below a broad decorative panel of guilloche pattern, undyed linen with looped red, ochre and dark blue wool, mounted
31 x 22 in. (79 x 56 cm.) approx.

Special notice

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Lot Essay

For closely related large looped weave hanging, cf. Sotheby's New York, 12 June 2001, lot 217. The image of the equestrian figure was a popular motif in Coptic art and had its roots in Egyptian depictions of Horus in the fight against the crocodile, Typhon, the symbol of evil. The Copts modified the image to the likeness of a saint, amongst others St George, the Archangel Michael, St Sisinnios or St Macarius.

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