Cleveland Museum of Art

Roundel from a Blanket or Cover

Date

300s–400s CE

Medium

tapestry weave with supplementary weft wrapping; undyed linen and dyed wool

Culture

Egypt, Byzantine period

Department

Textiles

Institution

Cleveland Museum of Art

Since pharaohs ruled ancient Egypt, linen cloth was woven with woolen loops for increased warmth and used as blankets and covers. Monochrome or single-color decoration as seen here dates this piece to the AD 300s. Polychrome or multicolor designs came later. Formed with deep purple wool and natural linen, the design consists of an outer circle with a knotted square inside. The center element has been lost.

The authoritative record is held by Cleveland Museum of Art. LinkedCulture surfaces this object and its connections; it does not alter institutional metadata.