Ancient Egyptian Coptic Textile Fragment - Tunic Clavus with Human and Animal Figure

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A decorative textile fragment originating from a vertical ornamental band (clavus) of a Coptic Egyptian tunic. The textile is framed and ready to put on display.

Woven in dark brown against a natural-coloured ground, the elongated fragment features a stylised figural composition, depicting a standing human figure with one arm raised and a smaller running animal below with an upward-curving tail. The central decoration is enclosed by narrow borders and flanked by repeating scrolling motifs.

The composition and decorative arrangement are comparable to Coptic tunic bands of the Byzantine period, including examples preserved in the Cleveland Museum of Art.

Culture: Coptic Egyptian, Late Antique / Byzantine period.
Dating: 6th century AD

Size fragment: ± 137 x 55 mm
Size display frame: ± 25 x 25 cm

Condition: Good condition, the fragment has some frayed edges, localised losses and signs of wear consistent with age and use.
Certificate of Authenticity (PDF) is available upon request for all lots with a hammer price of €100 or higher.

Reference: Compare Cleveland Museum of Art, 'Ornamental Shoulder Bands from a Tunic', 6th century AD, accession no. 1926.145.


-> Decorative textile bands known as 'clavi' were commonly incorporated into tunics worn in Late Antique Egypt. Often woven in contrasting wool and linen, these ornaments featured geometric patterns, human figures and animals, reflecting the artistic traditions of Roman and Byzantine Egypt.

Many surviving examples were separated from their original garments during the early history of archaeological collecting, leaving them as individual decorative fragments.


-> Coptic textiles were produced in Egypt during Late Antiquity and the early medieval period, combining artistic influences from the Roman, Byzantine and indigenous Egyptian traditions.

Decorative woven panels, including clavi and orbiculi, were commonly incorporated into tunics and other garments. Their designs often featured geometric patterns, scrolling vines, animals, human figures and symbolic motifs.

The contrasting use of dark wool against a lighter linen ground is characteristic of many surviving Egyptian textiles from this period. Egypt's dry climate has contributed to the preservation of these delicate archaeological fabrics.