Ornamental Shoulder Band from a Tunic
Unknown Artist
600–650
Medium
tapestry weave with supplementary weft wrapping; undyed linen and dyed wool
Dimensions
60.3 × 5.7 cm · mounted: 67.3 × 16.5 cm
Classification
Textile
Department
Textiles
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
Dudley P. Allen Fund
Accession Number
1919.24
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
On this tunic decoration, human figures appear to dance amid leafy plants. The first and third figures are shepherds, each wearing spotted animal–skin garments and holding wooden staffs. The second and fourth figures are dancers; the upper one wears a short draped garment (peplos), and the lower one appears nude except for a scarf draped over her shoulders. The brown-purple wool was dyed with kermes, a bluish-red dye from dried insects, and indigo in an unsuccessful attempt to imitate purple.