Cleveland Museum of Art

Ornamental Shoulder Band from a Tunic

Date

600–650

Medium

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

Culture

Egypt, Byzantine period

Department

Textiles

Institution

Cleveland Museum of Art

On this tunic decoration, human figures appear to dance amid leafy plants. The first and third figures are shepherds, each wearing spotted animal–skin garments and holding wooden staffs. The second and fourth figures are dancers; the upper one wears a short draped garment ( peplos ), and the lower one appears nude except for a scarf draped over her shoulders. The brown-purple wool was dyed with kermes, a bluish-red dye from dried insects, and indigo in an unsuccessful attempt to imitate purple.

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