Luxurious Woolen Tunic with Decorated Bands and Roundels
Unknown Artist
600s-700s
Medium
weft-faced plain weave with slit-and dovetailed-tapestry weave, supplementary weft wrapping, embroidery; undyed linen, dyed wool
Dimensions
205 × 170.2 cm
Classification
Textile
Department
Textiles
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
The A. W. Ellenberger, Sr., Endowment Fund
Accession Number
1972.46
About this artwork
Since the mid-AD 200s tunics were the main garments worn in Egypt. This unisex tunic is decorated on the front and back with the same geometric and figural motifs, including men on horseback hunting and geometric braided knots that were believed to protect the wearer from harm. A red background was favored in the early Islamic period. Made of thick wool for cooler weather, it was woven in one complete piece with the front, back, and sleeves in this exact shape and size. The tunic’s owner repaire...