Ancient Egyptian textile fragment from Illahun dated AD 395 – 642

Coarse linen, ends of warp turned in and stitched to form a cable edge. Vertical band and cross band embroidered with coloured wools in a diamond and cross design.
Plain weave with open worked ‘fringe’ to edge of warps. The embroidery is in blocks of colour. Two coloured threads worked over three warps. The design is of simple diamonds in blue, pink, red, brown, purple, green.

Ancient Egyptian textile fragment from Illahun dated AD 395 – 642

Object details

  • Reference: BOLMG:1911.63.6
  • Material: linen wool
  • Period: Coptic Period
  • Excavator: W.M.F. Petrie
  • Dated: AD 395 - 642
  • Object name: textile fragment
  • Dimensions: Length: 555mm , Width: 406mm
  • 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