Ancient Egyptian linen fragment from Illahun dated AD 395 – 642

Coarse linen, with band embroidered in squares of red, green and yellow, with dark blue border.
Plain weave. There are 1ten warps and ten wefts per centimetre. The embroidery is very neat on reverse side. Navy, green, red, yellow and pale blue coloured blocks. Threads – over three warps under one. Blocks formed from five rows of stitches. Three rows of navy stitches form a border on each side. two coloured threads per stitch.

Ancient Egyptian linen fragment from Illahun dated AD 395 – 642

Object details

  • Reference: BOLMG:1911.63.3
  • Material: linen
  • Period: Coptic Period
  • Excavator: W.M.F. Petrie
  • Dated: AD 395 - 642
  • Object name: linen fragment
  • Dimensions: Length: 408mm , Width: 354mm
  • 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