Textile ArtsCoptic7th-8th century

Square with Playing Putti

7th-8th century

Description

This tapestry-woven wool square is geometrically subdivided into sections filled with a variety of motifs. Four female busts in medallions in the corners represent beneficent personifications (the Seasons?); each woman holds what is probably a debased sprig of foliage in each hand, as personifications of natural concepts and abundance often do. The central medallion with a red background holds playing putti and possibly nereids. Four yellow birds stand outside this medallion within a dark blue square. Around this square, a yellow field is divided into compartments by a dark blue line. Playing putti and green birds with red wings representations fill spandrels. All the motifs are highly abstract and difficult to read but refer to traditional motifs. A purple border with yellow flowers surrounds the square. Areas of the red ground remain around the square. Interlock technique used extensively to close vertical slits. Tapestry over 1 warp; warp: S red wool (10 warps per 1 cm) weft: S wool, various colors (28 per 1 cm)

Classification

Textile Arts

Technique

Tapestry

Medium

Wool, tapestry woven

Culture

Coptic

Period

Byzantine period

Century

7th-8th century