Ancient Egyptian textile fragment from Illahun dated AD 395 – 642

Woven band on portion of linen tunic, which has stripes formed by weaving several weft yarns together in one shed. The band is of blue wool and undyed flax, with oval ornaments within lozenge shaped spaces alternating with semi-hexagons enclosing semi-quadrifoil floral devices.
Tunic, plain weave with thick stripes. The band is plain weave with design embroidered. The embroidery is in geometric designs with a simple repeating design with long floats on reverse side. Two threads used per stitching thread.

Ancient Egyptian textile fragment from Illahun dated AD 395 – 642

Object details

  • Reference: BOLMG:1911.63.12
  • Material: linen wool
  • Period: Coptic Period
  • Excavator: W.M.F. Petrie
  • Dated: AD 395 - 642
  • Object name: textile fragment
  • Dimensions: Length: 549mm , Width: 222mm
  • 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