Textile Fragment Date Unknown

This textile fragment was made by a Coptic artist using tapestry weaving and dyeing techniques. Notice the plain, undyed ground, which contrasts with the dyed motif of a stylized palmette. The tapestry process involves carefully interlacing dyed weft threads through the warp to create the design, a labor-intensive process that allows for intricate patterns. This fragment demonstrates the weaver's skill in manipulating the threads to create curvilinear forms and detailed interior elements. The fact that this is a fragment is significant. Coptic textiles were often used in funerary contexts, and cut into pieces to be distributed or kept as relics. The textile’s materiality, the weave, the dye, the very labor invested in its making, are all brought into sharp focus by its fragmentary state. Considering the material and making of this piece allows us to appreciate the cultural and social significance of Coptic textiles, and to look beyond conventional art historical boundaries.