Ancient Egyptian textile fragment from Illahun dated AD 395 – 642

Linen, yellow, very silky surface. Warp fine single yarn, weft very thick and irregular. Embroidered with lines and zigzag ornament in red wool. Ends of warp projecting, not looped or stitched over.
Plain weave. There are 11 warps per centimetre. There are two wefts per centimetre, each of two threads. The embroidery is two ply Z twist red wool over seven warps with threads hardly seen on the reverse side. The design is of chevrons. Plain weave in between.

Ancient Egyptian textile fragment from Illahun dated AD 395 – 642

Object details

  • Reference: BOLMG:1911.63.8
  • Material: linen wool
  • Period: Coptic Period
  • Excavator: W.M.F. Petrie
  • Dated: AD 395 - 642
  • Object name: textile fragment
  • Dimensions: Length: 556mm , Width: 390mm
  • Published references: A similar group in the Whitworth Art Gallery, exhibited and published by F. Pritchard, Clothing Culture (2006)
  • Site: Illahun
  • Latitude: 29.233333
  • Longitude: 30.966667