Coptic
Fragment of Hanging or Curtain with Bird and Buds
Coptic, 301-700
Physical Qualities
Linen, wool, 9-7/8 x 9-1/2 in. (25.1 x 24.1 cm.)
Credit Line
Gift of Dena S. Katzenberg, Baltimore
Object Number
1985.234
Birds often appear in Coptic textiles, particularly on large-scale examples. The size and orientation of the bird on this natural-colored, plain-woven linen and its placement above a 2” wide stripe filled with multicolored buds seems to indicate that it was part of a curtain or large hanging. The bird’s gold- and brown-checkered body and green wings outlined in red and gold are remarkably bright. However, the head is in surprisingly poor condition as only the linen warps survive. It is possible that this portion was woven in a yarn that disintegrated due to the dye used to color it.
Baltimore Museum of Art by gift 1985; Dena S. Katzenberg, Baltimore, MD.
Anita Jones, The Baltimore Museum of Art, Timeless Weft: Ancient Tapestries and the Art of Louise B. Wheatley, February 1–July 30, 2017.
