Cleveland Museum of Art

Fragment of a Tunic

Date

400s

Medium

tabby weave with inwoven tapestry ornament: linen

Culture

Egypt, 5th century, Byzantine period

Department

Textiles

Institution

Cleveland Museum of Art

The quality of this finely woven decoration outweighs its fragmentary condition. The central horizontal neck opening, reinforced with a cord, is flanked by panels displaying warriors, hunters, dancers, lions, and rabbits. Some are standing upright, when viewed from the front and back of the tunic, and others appear to be “lying down.” In the shoulder square on the right, four kneeling hunters holding round shields are dressed in Roman-Byzantine military costume, which consists of a leather skirt, cloak over the shoulder, and high laced boots.

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