A rectangular textile fragment depicting a cornice-like motif on a pink ground with yellow, green, orange and blue designs showing birds, fruit, faces, a cross, and geometric shapes.
Photo © President and Fellows of Harvard College
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Photo © President and Fellows of Harvard College

The rectangular textile fragment is worked in a warm, medium pink with a set of three yellow lines that descend into off-white equilateral triangles at the base. The top border is a yellow band containing orange squares with four white dots in the middle, blue circles with lighter blue centers, and a two-toned green square. There is a yellow bowl of pink striped fruit with some greenery in the panel center, flanked by two off-white birds detailed in black. Beneath the bowl, opposing pairs of two-toned green or pink stepped garlands appear. Toward the left is a partial yellow cross with flared ends and blue details on the arms. Two human faces appear in the spaces between the cross arms, and a left-facing bird flanks the cross. Toward the right is a right-facing off-white bird with a blue wing.

Identification and Creation

Object Number
1962.81
Title
Fragment (of a Hanging?) with Jeweled Border
Other Titles
Alternate Title: Textile Fragment with Jeweled Border
Classification
Textile Arts
Work Type
textile
Date
4th-6th century
Places
Creation Place: Ancient & Byzantine World, Africa, Egypt (Ancient)
Period
Byzantine period, Early
Culture
Byzantine
Persistent Link
https://hvrd.art/o/212858

Physical Descriptions

Medium
Wool and linen, tapestry woven
Technique
Woven, tapestry weave
Dimensions
47 x 17 cm (18 1/2 x 6 11/16 in.)

Acquisition and Rights

Credit Line
Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Bequest of Marian H. Phinney
Accession Year
1962
Object Number
1962.81
Division
Asian and Mediterranean Art
Contact
am_asianmediterranean@harvard.edu
Permissions

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Descriptions

Description
Plain linen is visible above and below the edges of this brightly colored band. Pairs of water birds flank baskets full of fruit above pink and green garlands. Simulated jewels set against a gold background run along the top edge. At left, a gold cross decorated with blue gems has small human faces between its arms.

Publication History

  • Ioli Kalavrezou, Byzantine Women and Their World, exh. cat., Harvard University Art Museums (Cambridge, MA, 2003), p. 172/fig. 89

Exhibition History

  • Byzantine Women and Their World, Harvard University Art Museums, Cambridge, 10/25/2002 - 04/28/2003
  • 32Q: 3740 Egyptian, Harvard Art Museums, Cambridge, 11/16/2014 - 05/12/2015

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