Textile ArtsByzantine3rd-6th century

Band with Foliage Design

3rd-6th century

Description

A narrow, dark blue tapestry woven band with a design of simple, geometric foliage in green, yellow, pink, orange, and red wool wefts. This band has double borders of undyed wool and red wool. Segments of weft-faced weave with undyed wefts run on either side of the colored band. Undyed warps run perpendicular to the length of the band. This band comes from the same textile as 1931.35.2 and the pair possibly either represent portions of the same band that have been separated or represent the clavi bands of a tunic. Both bands are characterized by a repeating foliage pattern of three potted plants. The first plant: a yellow-footed green and red urn sprouts a pair of triangular yellow leaves and three stems with red and white circular flowers. The next plant is a golden vine on a pink triangular base. Between the gold tendrils floats a green dot, and above this is a red bud seen from the side. The third plant in the pattern has a red sector shape with buff outline hovering above a pair of green leaves, which in turn sits upon a pair of yellow tendrils. The tendrils emerges from an orange triangular base. The interlock tapestry technique is used in some areas to avoid a long vertical slit between warps. This is particularly evident on the plant bases. A self-band visible at the upper left.

Classification

Textile Arts

Medium

Wool, tapestry woven

Culture

Byzantine

Period

Byzantine period

Century

3rd-6th century

Division

Asian and Mediterranean Art

Department

Department of Ancient and Byzantine Art & Numismatics

Dimensions

24.77 x 7.62 cm (9 3/4 x 3 in.)

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