Harvard Art Museums > 1931.41: Textile Band with Nereids and Animals 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"Textile Band with Nereids and Animals , 1931.41,” Harvard Art Museums collections online, Apr 25, 2024, https://hvrd.art/o/215210. Reuse via IIIF Toggle Deep Zoom Mode Download This object does not yet have a description. Identification and Creation Object Number 1931.41 Title Textile Band with Nereids and Animals Classification Textile Arts Work Type textile Date 6th century Places Creation Place: Africa, Egypt Period Byzantine period Culture Byzantine Persistent Link https://hvrd.art/o/215210 Physical Descriptions Medium Wool, tapestry woven Technique Woven, tapestry weave Dimensions 12.38 x 52.07 cm (4 7/8 x 20 1/2 in.) Acquisition and Rights Credit Line Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Gift of Charles Bain Hoyt Accession Year 1931 Object Number 1931.41 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 A monochrome tapestry woven band decorated with three medallions containing animal and plant forms. Two human figures appear between each circle. These figures appear to be nereids riding on the scaled backs of sea monsters. Behind the head of the left nereid in each pair is a basket of fruit or flowers. The design of the nereids is executed more clearly and with greater legibility towards the right side of the band. The leftmost medallion contains a tree and four birds; the orientation of this medallion differs from that of the other two. The center medallion represents a feline standing at the base of a tree. The rightmost medallion contains two animals facing opposite directions and has the form of a stylized wreath. The three medallions represent vines, with tendrils extending outward at four places on each circle. This is particularly evident in the rightmost medallion, where the scrolling light-colored vine that creates the circle is most clearly articulated. Reddish warps. This textile fragment might possibly represent the clavus of a tunic. There is an area of plain weave below the tapestry band. An area of weft faced tabby weave with dark blue wefts is above the tapestry band. 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
