Square with Two Human Figures
5th-6th century
Description
Tapestry-woven square in brownish purple, yellowish (undyed?), and cream-colored wool wefts. At its center, is a purple square containing two stout yellow dancers each holding unidentified objects in both hands, perhaps the long scarves typical of dancers. A field of busy, abstract, unreadable motifs surrounds this inner square; details of this field’s design were created with supplementary wefts of cream wool. The borders at top and bottom of the square differ slightly from those at the right and left. Details of the borders are done in ‘flying shuttle’ technique of supplementary weft wrapping in a light colored thread. Supplementary weft wrapping, though in a thicker or plied thread, also creates the cream colored lines that run parallel to the warp direction. The warp runs perpendicular to the design of the dancers.
Dimensions
13.34 x 40.64 cm (5 1/4 x 16 in.)
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