Who created "Fragment (Border)"?

Fragment (Border) was created by Coptic in Greco–Roman period (30 BCE–641 CE), 4th/5th century.

When was "Fragment (Border)" created?

This artwork was created Greco–Roman period (30 BCE–641 CE), 4th/5th century.

What medium is "Fragment (Border)"?

Fragment (Border) is Linen and wool, slit tapestry weave.

Is "Fragment (Border)" in the public domain?

Yes, Fragment (Border) is in the public domain and available for free download under CC0 license.

Fragment (Border)

Coptic

Greco–Roman period (30 BCE–641 CE), 4th/5th century

Medium

Linen and wool, slit tapestry weave

Dimensions

27.9 × 6.4 cm (11 × 2 1/2 in.)

Classification

textile

Department

Textiles

Museum

Art Institute of Chicago

Accession Number

1841

Art Historical Context

This delicate textile fragment, a Coptic border from Egypt's Greco-Roman period (th/5th century), offers a glimpse into the vibrant of early Christian craftsmanship. Created during a time when Egypt bridged Hellenistic, Roman, and emerging Byzantine influences, Coptic textiles like this one adorned garments, furnishings, and burial wrappings. Measuring just 11 × 2½ inches, it likely formed part of a larger decorative band, showcasing the Copts' skill in blending everyday functionality with spiritual symbolism. Woven in linen and wool using slit tapestry weave—a technique where discontinuous w...

About the Artist

Coptic

Coptic, the collective attribution for anonymous masters of early Christian Egypt, embodies the vibrant fusion of pharaonic, Hellenistic, and Greco-Roman traditions that defined art from the 4th century onward. Emerging in the context of Coptic Christianity's rise after the 1st century AD, these artists operated amid economic constraints that favored functional craftsmanship over elite patronage, ...

Fragment (Border)

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