Textile ArtsByzantine

Band with Human and Animal Figures

Description

A thin brownish-purple band runs parallel to a red band containing a design of highly abstracted human and animal figures. Figures are done in yellow, brown, green, black, and red wool wefts. Human figures with arms raised repeat, one above the other, along the length of the band. Two of these figures stand next to large multicolored fish. Several of the other figures may have smaller fish attached to their belts and represent fishermen. In the yellow medallion at the center of this design, a small nude putto holds a green bird with red spots and crest. All figures are outlined in black. The figure to the right of the medallion holds up a green leaf in each hand, a common gesture by personifications of the earth. On the opposite side of the brown band, there is a red wave scroll border. There is a gap between the purple band and the two red bands; some survivals of dark brown fabric suggest these gaps were likely once filled with dark brown wefts. A small area of dark brown also survives below the inhabited band. Areas of exposed warps in the human figures’ skin were probably also filled with brown wefts. The putto with the duck is primarily made up of exposed warps, but his dark brown hand survives on the green bird. Above the red wave scroll are remnants of undyed yellowish wefts. Undyed warps.

Classification

Textile Arts

Technique

Woven, tapestry weave

Medium

Linen and wool, tapestry woven

Culture

Byzantine

Period

Byzantine period

Division

Asian and Mediterranean Art