Fragment of Coptic fabric. Egypt, 6th-8th centuries A.D.

Fragment of Coptic fabric. Egypt, 6th-8th century AD.
Tapestry in polychrome textile fiber.
Provenance: Aponem, Maison des ventes, lot 417, sale of June 6, 2019, African Art.
With export permit.
State of conservation: general wear, weft losses and chromatic oxidation in keeping with its age and archaeological nature.
Measurements: 24 x 23 x 2 cm.

Coptic textile fragment from Egypt, dated between the 6th and 8th centuries A.D., a period in which the production of textiles reached an extraordinary technical and iconographic richness. The piece presents a central medallion with a winged figure, possibly of angelic or allegorical character, accompanied by a bird, framed by a vegetal composition of vivid red, ochre, green and blue tones.

The design combines late Antique tradition, Eastern Christian sensibility and the ornamental heritage of the ancient Mediterranean. The central figure, with a dynamic attitude and strong symbolic presence, is integrated into a decorative structure of great chromatic intensity, probably conceived as an ornamental application for a tunic, tapestry or textile element for ceremonial use.

The composition retains a remarkable visual strength. The floral motifs, the circular medallion and the vividness of the color respond to the characteristic language of Coptic textiles, appreciated for their ability to unite function, ornament and spiritual iconography. This type of piece is represented in important international collections, such as the Louvre Museum, the Victoria and Albert Museum and the Coptic Museum in Cairo.