Fragment of a Tunic

Art Historical Context

This delicate fragment of a tunic, to the 3rd–4th century, a rare glimpse into the everyday clothing of people in the ancient Mediterranean world, likely from Egypt during the Late Antique period. Preserved in the Metropolitan Museum of's Department of Islamic Art—thanks to a generous gift from George F. in 1890—it measures just 17⅛ inches high and 3⅝ inches wide, hinting at the garment's original sleeve or border. Such textiles are invaluable survivors, as organic materials rarely endure millennia, providing direct evidence of fashion, trade, and craftsmanship in a vibrant era bridging Roman,...