Panel from a Large Curtain, Overlapping Leaves
Unknown Artist
300s–400s CE
Medium
Undyed linen and dyed wool: tapestry weave sewn on plain weave ground
Dimensions
78.7 × 15.2 cm · mounted: 127.6 × 25.4 cm
Classification
Textile
Department
Textiles
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund
Accession Number
1983.145.a
About this artwork
These colorful overlapping leaves with interspersed buds along the sides originally formed a decorative panel in a large curtain. Together with several similar designs, they alternated with areas of undyed linen decorated with scattered wool and linen tapestry-woven motifs. Although decorative motifs were often woven into the ground fabric, this panel was sewn on afterwards. During the late Roman and early Christian period curtains with woven or applied decoration were used in churches and Chris...