Curtain c. 5th - 6th century

textile, wool

natural stone pattern

toned paper

water colours

pottery

textile

wool

handmade artwork painting

tile art

egypt

wall painting

watercolour bleed

watercolour illustration

watercolor

This Coptic textile, “Curtain,” dating from the 5th to 6th century features a large cross surrounded by a circular pattern of stylized flowers and leaves. The cross is decorated with geometric shapes in red, green, and blue, and the background is a natural linen color. The piece is likely a fragment of a larger textile, possibly a liturgical curtain or a piece of clothing. This artwork is a testament to the artistic skill and religious devotion of Coptic culture during this period.

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minneapolisinstituteofart about 1 year ago

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This 1,500-year-old cloth was made by a Christian Egyptian weaver to be used as a sanctuary curtain in a Coptic church or monastery. It probably served later as a burial pall to cover the coffin of an important person. Because Egypt’s climate is conducive to textile preservation, the fabric was still in good condition when it was unearthed. With its many symbolic images, this curtain is among the most important early Christian fabrics that survive today. The combination of a wreath, traditionally awarded to winners of competitions, and the Latin cross, which refers to Christ’s crucifixion, was meant to symbolize victory over death and the joy of everlasting life. The twelve fruits on the wreath may be a reference to the twelve kinds of fruit on the Tree of Life, as found in the Christian Bible’s book of Revelation, suggesting that the Cross itself is equated with the Tree of Life.