Inv. No. 7948
Linen, wool
L: 142 cm, W: 103 cm
Antinoë (?), 4th/ 5th century
The Copts were famous for their outstanding weaving skills and exported their products to other Mediterranean countries. The textiles were mainly made of plain linen in which the entire surface was decorated with dyed woolen threads. This technique is called tapestry. One of the finest examples was probably used as a curtain and is decorated with a dark-skinned piper (on the right) and figures of dancers, warriors and men on horseback in Greek style (on the left). Such fragments of tapestry even give a vivid picture of Coptic taste.
Inv. No. 7690
Linen, wool
Bought from Kamel Abdallah Hammouda, 4th century
In this tapestry, a winged erote is holding a garland. The lower right corner of this tapestry is decorated with leaves and bunches of grapes. Black was used for the outlines of the figures and different shades of the same color from blue to grey along with different reds give this piece a special optical effect. Such tapestry hangings furnished the houses of wealthy Copts and were either hung on walls or used as curtains.
Inv. No. 7645
Linen, wool
Bought from Ashirof, 6th-8th century
This piece of textile is woven in tapestry with woolen threads ornamented with human figures, animals, floral designs and birds.
Inv. No. 4783
Linen and wool
H: 30 cm, W: 31 cm
Unknown provenance, 4th century
Textiles like this example produced in the 4th and 6th centuries were mainly monochromatic (use of only one color) and decorated with intricate geometric and interlace design. Violet was one of the prefered colors with which the woolen threads were dyed.
Inv. No. 10605
Linen, wool
Unknown provenance, 5th-6th century
This tunic was a garment commonly worn by males in Greco-Roman civilizations. At the top of this tunic, an arcade encloses figures of dancers and warriors. Below, two vertical panels with warriors and dancers alternate with roundels amid human busts.
Inv. No. 1708
Linen, wool
Unknown provenance, 7th / 8th century
A tapestry roundel with woollen and linen threads is decorated with two standing figures with haloes flanking a rod.
Inv. No. 1896
Linen, wool
Unknown provenance, 5th century
A roundel in tapestry with woollen and linen threads. In the middle are geometrical designs surrounded by fruit baskets and turtles.