The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of April 12, 2026

A horizontally wide, woven linen fragment features a stained tan ground decorated with dark blue wool bands. An L-shaped border frames the left and bottom, while a vertical column stands at the right, each terminating in circular bird medallions. Two square panels containing animal and geometric motifs rest in the center. The cloth exhibits significant losses and staining, finished with a fringe of frayed tassels along the bottom edge.

Lower Section of a Tunic

400s CE

Egypt, Byzantine period

Undyed linen and dyed wool: tapestry weave with supplementary weft wrapping
Overall: 54.9 x 106.7 cm (21 5/8 x 42 in.); Mounted: 67.3 x 118.1 cm (26 1/2 x 46 1/2 in.)
Gift of William E. Ward in memory of his wife, Evelyn Svec Ward 1993.177
Location: Not on view

Did You Know?

Long wide tunics were the most common garments of this time period.

Description

This is the bottom section of a well-woven wool unisex tunic. Various stylized roundels with animals and baskets decorate the hem that extends into round finials with birds. The interior two square panels complete the design. Extra wefts, or horizontal threads, enrich the animals and the deep blue ground, probably a failed purple dye. While the robe itself is created from linen, the fringes at the bottom are made from wool.
  • -1975
    (Ascher, Paris, France, sold to Mr. William E. Ward)
    1975-1993
    Mr. William E. Ward (1922–2004). Solon, OH, gifted to the Cleveland Museum of Art, in memory of his wife, Evelyn Svec Ward
    1993-
    The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
  • “1993 Annual Report.” The Bulletin of the Cleveland Museum of Art 81, no. 6 (1994). Mentioned: p. 167 www.jstor.org
  • Coptic Textile Rotation Gallery 106. The Cleveland Museum of Art (organizer) (November 13, 2023-November 10, 2024).
    Coptic Textile Rotation Gallery 106. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (May 23, 2017-May 14, 2018).
    Coptic Textile Rotation Gallery 106. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (April 4, 2011-May 21, 2012).
  • {{cite web|title=Lower Section of a Tunic|url=false|author=|year=400s CE|access-date=12 April 2026|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1993.177