Coptic Medallion

The Copts are the largest Christian community in North Africa, particularly in Egypt where to this day they comprise 15% of the Egyptian population. Coptic textiles exhibit exceptional weaving virtuosity and vibrant colors. They survived because of the dry hot climate and because the Copts buried their dead dressed in them. Most Coptic textiles that survived are tunics that are decorated with long stripes with an emphasis on the shoulders where small medallions were placed to ward off the evil eye. Coptic designs were later a source of inspiration for early Islamic period visual repertoire.

This small square medallion has two wide borders with the blue inner one featuring red flowers, green squares and yellow quatrefoils. The red field has a slender cross with its points ending in trefoils. All executed in tapestry weave and retaining vibrant vegetal dyes.