Roundel: Profusion of Dancers and Animals
7th century
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.
Dimensions
25.4 cm (10 in) diameter
Related Artworks
View MoreSilk lampas
17th centurySpanishwool; twill tapestry weave, double-interlocked
18th centuryIndianWool and linen, tapestry weave
7th centuryByzantineSilk with gilt metallic yarn embroidery
16th centurySpanishRamie with vegetable dyes and mineral pigments; stenciled and freehand paste-resist decoration applied on both sides of fabric
18th-19th centuryJapaneseTextile fibers
18th centuryFrenchsilk, metallic yarns (filé. lamé and frisé) and sequins
18th-19th centuryItalianFiber
ItalianVelvet
Italian