A round textile fragment in purple and off-white showing densely packed dancers, putti, lions, flowers, fish, birds, and other animals with a solid purple border and smaller purple circle with an off-white twist.
Photo © President and Fellows of Harvard College
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Photo © President and Fellows of Harvard College

The circular textile fragment is tapestry-woven in purple and off-white. The outer border is solid purple surrounding a densely packed motif of dancers, putti, lions, flowers, fish, birds, and other animals. In the middle of the motif is another smaller purple circle with an off-white twist pattern.

Identification and Creation

Object Number
1985.117
Title
Roundel: Profusion of Dancers and Animals
Classification
Textile Arts
Work Type
textile
Date
7th century
Places
Creation Place: Ancient & Byzantine World, Africa, Egypt (Ancient)
Period
Byzantine period
Culture
Byzantine
Persistent Link
https://hvrd.art/o/99857

Physical Descriptions

Medium
Wool
Technique
Woven, tapestry weave
Dimensions
25.4 cm (10 in) diameter

Acquisition and Rights

Credit Line
Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Gift of Nanette B. Rodney
Accession Year
1985
Object Number
1985.117
Division
Asian and Mediterranean Art
Contact
am_asianmediterranean@harvard.edu
Permissions

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Descriptions

Description
This all wool, tapestry woven roundel has a design field that at first appears completely abstract. Close attention shows the pattern is actually made up of densely packed purple motifs: dancers, putti, lions, flowers, fish, birds, and other animals crowd together, creating a mottled effect. An inner medallion has a thick purple border with a scrolling buff motif that recalls the scrolling vine that forms medallions on many Byzantine textiles. The human figures within the roundel provide the textile with a clear orientation. Although the motifs are highly stylized, supplementary weft wrapping (‘flying shuttle’) in buff thread introduces details to all of them, showing that they have been executed intentionally and carefully.

Small strips of dark red fabric survive on the sides of the roundel along the purple border; the larger textile from which this circle has been cut would likely have been primarily a dark red field with purple and buff tapestry decoration at key points on the fabric. Dark red wool warps also run throughout the textile.

Exhibition History

  • 32Q: 3740 Egyptian, Harvard Art Museums, Cambridge, 11/20/2019 - 11/15/2021

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