Band with Dancers and Plant Motifs
7th-8th century
Description
A red tapestry band features dancers and plant motifs. The red squares outlined in white contain four multicolored dancers with raised arms woven in yellow, pink, and blue wefts. Each dancer has three legs—perhaps they are centaurs. Between each pair of dancers is a small white plant. Teal rectangular fields contain red medallions with a single human dancer. Outside the medallion are plant motifs formed out of simple lines, dots, and heart-shaped leaves. A dark blue wave scroll border outlined in white runs down both sides of the band. Undyed fabric survives on both sides of the band and probably made up the ground of this textile.
Dimensions
19.1 x 66 cm (7 1/2 x 26 in.)
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7th-8th centuryByzantine