Fragment with Purple Interlace and Vine
3rd-5th century CE
Description
A tapestry woven purple band on a ground of bleached linen. An outer border composed of a vine and berry pattern runs above the band. The meander interlace pattern is created with undyed linen thread on a purple weft-faced ground. The interlace is primarily executed in ‘flying shuttle,’ in which a supplementary weft floats across the surface of the weft-faced weave. Several dots within the meander pattern are tapestry woven. Flying shuttle creates some fine details also within the vine and berry pattern, including the vertical white space between the berries and leaves and the curling edges of the leaves. Several rows of plain weave linen survive at the top of the band. The linen warps are regrouped into pairs in the area of weft-faced weave.
Dimensions
8.89 x 12.38 cm (3 1/2 x 4 7/8 in.)
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