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Textile Fragment, Egypt, Greco-Roman Style,
This Coptic textile fragment appears to be a portrait of Dionysus, the Greek god of wine, as a young man. The wreath of vines and animal skin garment he is wearing are typical of portraits of Dionysus. This fragment may have been part of a hanging or tunic. Tunics were worn by men, women and children throughout the Roman Empire and were often decorated with roundels or squares on the shoulders and knees. This textile is made using a technique called tapestry weave. In tapestry
weave, the weft yarns do not continue from selvedge to selvedge (side
to side) of the cloth; instead, each weft yarn acts independently, passing
back and forth within its own pattern area. Since the weft yarns carry
the pattern and the warps are invisible, the weave must be weft-faced.
The weaver also uses eccentric wefts to give the portrait three-dimensionality.
Eccentric wefts do not form a right angle with the warps, but instead
are manipulated to create curves. Tapestry weave over one warp, slit and dovetailed; weft
wrapping; eccentric wefts Each month we will highlight a different textile from the Museum's collection. |
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