| Description |
“Tunic fragment with insert roundel. The roundel has a border of triangles and contains the motif of a lion cub along with leafy-spray filler motif. The design elements were worked in purple on an ecru ground. The ground is linen in a near-tabby weave, 22 x 19 [warp : weft per square cm]. The insert is wool and linen tapestry with weft float details. All yarn is S-twist. Fifth century. Remarks: As mentioned in the remarks for Number 14 [CAS 0389-2586], single lion motifs may have a protective purpose. The textiles in this group [DL Carroll # 17-26 (CAS 0389-2379, -2381, -2383, -2387, -2395, -2408A,B, -2418, -2428, -2431, -2587)] are reportedly from Shaikh Abada, or El Sheik Abara - the Arabic name for the site is transliterated variously. The ancient city was named Antinoöpolis after a beautiful Greek youth who drowned near there. It was founded in his memory by the emperor Hadrian around A.D. 13. A major weaving center in antiquity, some of its products have a classical flavor that may derive from Hadrian’s interest in early Greek art. The archaic style of Greece was revived during his reign. Later, in the Christian period, Antinoöpolis became the site of a famous monastery founded by Saint Samuel. While it is impossible to place total reliance on antique dealers’ attributions, the textiles in this group have similarities that make a common source believable. It is assumed that Rietz purchased them as a group, perhaps from a dealer in the vicinity.†[From Looms and Textiles of the Copts by Diane Lee Carroll (San Francisco, CA: Memoirs of the California Academy of Sciences, No. 11, 1988); Catalog # 22, pp. 102, 111.] |
