Lot Essay
Item one: it has been suggested that the subject may either represent Aphrodite beating her son Eros, or the Virgin Mary beating Jesus.
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CIRCA 5TH-9TH CENTURY A.D.
Details
FIVE COPTIC WOOL AND LINEN TEXTILE FRAGMENTS
CIRCA 5TH-9TH CENTURY A.D.
Comprising a 'red' wool tunic fragment with the distal part of a multicoloured clavus, depicting the repeated image of a figure being beaten, between standing figures with tall headdresses, with striped and foliate borders, 7th-9th Century A.D., 14½ x 8½ in. (37 x 21.5 cm.); a tunic roundel with central bust of a saint holding palm branches(?) in raised hands, surrounded by animals and figures with baskets of fruit, multicoloured details on red ground, with border of delicate foliate tendrils, 6th-8th Century A.D., 7 in. (18 cm.) diam.; a multicoloured decorative panel with two registers of five stylized dancing nude figures, each with an arm raised, within geometric borders, circa 7th-9th Century A.D., 10½ x 9½ in. (26.7 x 24 cm.); a multicoloured bird and floral element, on later linen ground, 5th-8th Century A.D., 4½ in. (11.5 cm.) long and 4 in. (10 cm.) high respectively; and a rectangular decorative panel comprising two bands of delicate foliate tendrils with central rosettes, surrounded by a border of similar tendrils and four flying erotes, the panel divided and bordered by bands of chevrons, details multicoloured on dark blue ground, 5th-8th Century A.D., 14½ x 7¾ in. (37 x 19.7 cm.) (5)
CIRCA 5TH-9TH CENTURY A.D.
Comprising a 'red' wool tunic fragment with the distal part of a multicoloured clavus, depicting the repeated image of a figure being beaten, between standing figures with tall headdresses, with striped and foliate borders, 7th-9th Century A.D., 14½ x 8½ in. (37 x 21.5 cm.); a tunic roundel with central bust of a saint holding palm branches(?) in raised hands, surrounded by animals and figures with baskets of fruit, multicoloured details on red ground, with border of delicate foliate tendrils, 6th-8th Century A.D., 7 in. (18 cm.) diam.; a multicoloured decorative panel with two registers of five stylized dancing nude figures, each with an arm raised, within geometric borders, circa 7th-9th Century A.D., 10½ x 9½ in. (26.7 x 24 cm.); a multicoloured bird and floral element, on later linen ground, 5th-8th Century A.D., 4½ in. (11.5 cm.) long and 4 in. (10 cm.) high respectively; and a rectangular decorative panel comprising two bands of delicate foliate tendrils with central rosettes, surrounded by a border of similar tendrils and four flying erotes, the panel divided and bordered by bands of chevrons, details multicoloured on dark blue ground, 5th-8th Century A.D., 14½ x 7¾ in. (37 x 19.7 cm.) (5)
Provenance
Swiss private collection, acquired by the great uncle of the present owner from the 1960s onwards.
Special notice
VAT rate of 5% is payable on hammer price and at 15% on the buyer's premium
Please note that the lots of Iranian origin are subject to U.S. trade restrictions which currently prohibit the import into the United States. Similar restrictions may apply in other countries.
This lot will be removed to an off-site warehouse at the close of business on the day of sale - 2 weeks free storage
Sale room notice
All the illustrations on pages 144-145 should be labelled as lot 184.