Ancient Egyptian textile fragment from Illahun dated AD 395 – 642

Linen, the warps forming a fringe, with border decoration of lines produced by the use of thick soft weft. A band in coloured wools.
Plain weave with two sides cut and the right side selvedge. There are three rows of thicker wefts above the fringe. There are 12 warps and 12 wefts per centimetre. Fringe to one side which is formed from warps. The embroidery is in red, green, blue, yellow and pale purple wools. Two threads are worked over three warps then under one warp. Simple design – forms diamonds. Ends left loose on reverse.

Ancient Egyptian textile fragment from Illahun dated AD 395 – 642

Object details

  • Reference: BOLMG:1911.63.1
  • Material: linen wool
  • Period: Coptic Period
  • Excavator: W.M.F. Petrie
  • Dated: AD 395 - 642
  • Object name: textile fragment
  • Dimensions: Length: 562mm , Width: 395mm
  • 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