Harvard Art Museums > 1985.108: Tunic Fragment with Birds, Flowers, Lions, and Dancers Textile Arts Collections Search Exit Deep Zoom Mode Zoom Out Zoom In Reset Zoom Full Screen Add to Collection Order Image Copy Link Copy Citation Citation"Tunic Fragment with Birds, Flowers, Lions, and Dancers , 1985.108,” Harvard Art Museums collections online, Dec 26, 2024, https://hvrd.art/o/171308. Reuse via IIIF Toggle Deep Zoom Mode Download This object does not yet have a description. Identification and Creation Object Number 1985.108 Title Tunic Fragment with Birds, Flowers, Lions, and Dancers Classification Textile Arts Work Type tapestry Date 8th-10th century Places Creation Place: Ancient & Byzantine World, Africa, Egypt (Ancient) Period Byzantine period Culture Byzantine Persistent Link https://hvrd.art/o/171308 Location Location Level 3, Room 3620, University Study Gallery View this object's location on our interactive map Physical Descriptions Medium Wool and linen Technique Woven, tapestry weave Dimensions 46 x 36 cm (18 1/8 x 14 3/16 in.) Acquisition and Rights Credit Line Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Gift of Nanette B. Rodney Accession Year 1985 Object Number 1985.108 Division Asian and Mediterranean Art Contact am_asianmediterranean@harvard.edu Permissions The Harvard Art Museums encourage the use of images found on this website for personal, noncommercial use, including educational and scholarly purposes. To request a higher resolution file of this image, please submit an online request. Descriptions Description This tunic fragment features two short clavi (shoulder bands) terminating in pendants containing blue medallions with a red border. The main field of the fragment features a design of alternating blue and red roundels: blue roundels with red borders contain yellow and red animals, probably lions; red roundels contain nude human dancers wearing the scarves or implements characteristic of members of Dionysus’ retinue. Two thin dark blue tendrils emerge from each roundel, indicating the medallions are composed of vines, a common compositional motif. Separating the small roundels are red and blue candelabra plants flanked by a pair of green birds with crests (probably quails or peahens). Inside the narrow rectangular field between the two clavi, interlacing thick red and yellow vine scrolls or garlands contain spiky green flower buds. Below the pair of vines/garlands, blue birds with crests and red wings flank large green flowers/jewels and baskets with red fruits suspended from the vines above. The top of the fragment features a geometric meander design created in the flying shuttle technique of supplementary weft wrapping. A dark blue wave scroll border runs around the clavi. Commentary This tunic fragment likely comes from the part of the garment that decorated the chest (or upper back) and sat right below the neck slit. A reinforced selvedge at the top of the fragment indicates the position of the slit for the neck opening in this tunic. This fragment may represent the front or back of the tunic, since they were often identical. The staining on the textile suggests it was worn or wrapped a body inside a tomb. Imagery of dancers, lions, peacocks, and lush plants in an abstract style. The composition of the frieze containing paired birds and baskets and flowers suspended from garlands can be compared to that of Harvard’s 1962.81. Publication History Ioli Kalavrezou, Byzantine Women and Their World, exh. cat., Harvard University Art Museums (Cambridge, MA, 2003), p. 267/fig. 159 Exhibition History Byzantine Women and Their World, Harvard University Art Museums, Cambridge, 10/25/2002 - 04/28/2003 32Q: 3620 University Study Gallery, Harvard Art Museums, Cambridge, 08/31/2024 - 01/05/2025 Verification Level This record was created from historic documentation and may not have been reviewed by a curator; it may be inaccurate or incomplete. Our records are frequently revised and enhanced. For more information please contact the Division of Asian and Mediterranean Art at am_asianmediterranean@harvard.edu
