The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of June 10, 2023

Lower Section of a Tunic

400s CE

Egypt, Byzantine period, 5th century

Undyed linen and dyed wool: tapestry weave with supplementary weft wrapping

Overall: 54.9 x 106.7 cm (21 5/8 x 42 in.); Mounted: 67.3 x 118.1 cm (26 1/2 x 46 1/2 in.)

Gift of William E. Ward in memory of his wife, Evelyn Svec Ward 1993.177

Location

not on view

Fun Fact

Long wide tunics were the most common garments of this time period.

Description

This is the bottom section of a well-woven wool unisex tunic. Various stylized animals and possibly radial baskets in roundels decorate the hem band with round finials bearing birds and the two square panels, woven in tapestry weave. Extra wefts enrich the animals and the deep blue ground, probably a failed purple dye. The woolen fringe was added across the bottom.

Provenance
-1975
(Ascher, Paris, France, sold to Mr. William E. Ward)
1975-1993
Mr. William E. Ward (1922–2004). Solon, OH, gifted to the Cleveland Museum of Art, in memory of his wife, Evelyn Svec Ward
1993-
The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
Citations
“1993 Annual Report.” The Bulletin of the Cleveland Museum of Art 81, no. 6 (1994). p. 167 www.jstor.org
Exhibition history

Coptic Textile Rotation Gallery 106. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (April 4, 2011-May 21, 2012).

Coptic Textile Rotation Gallery 106. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (May 23, 2017-May 14, 2018).

Source URL: https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1993.177