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Maker(s):Unknown
Culture:Coptic
Title:Tapestry-woven Panel with Grouse
Date Made:ca. 5th century CE
Type:Wall Hanging
Materials:wool
Place Made:Africa; Egypt
Measurements:mount: 29 9/16 in x 21 1/8 in; 75.1 cm x 53.7 cm; sheet: 7 7/16 in x 8 in; 18.9 cm x 20.3 cm
Accession Number:  AC T.1940.4
Credit Line:Gift of Mrs. George D. Pratt (Vera Hale)
Museum Collection:  Mead Art Museum at Amherst College
T-1940-4.jpg

Label Text:
The term "Copt" originally referred to the native Egyptians, as opposed to the Greek or Arab invaders. And later "Copt" became a religious designation referring to Christian Egyptians. Textiles known as "Coptic" are from the Christian cemetaries in Egypt and date from the 3rd century C.E. onwards. The textile on exhibit contains a beautiful color purple. While the dye may be from plant extracts, it is more likely "Tyrian Purple" or Royal Purple. This dye was produced from the mucus of the hypobranchial gland of various species of marine mollusks, notably Murex. It took roughly 12,000 shellfish to extract 1.5 grams of pure dye.

Tags:
textile fabrics; African; animals; flowers; patterns; purple

Link to share this object record:
https://museums.fivecolleges.edu/detail.php?t=objects&type=ext&id_number=AC+T.1940.4

Research on objects in the collections, including provenance, is ongoing and may be incomplete. If you have additional information or would like to learn more about a particular object, please email fc-museums-web@fivecolleges.edu.

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