Fragment
Roman period (30 B.C.– 641 A.D.)/Arab period (641–969), 6th/8th century
Linen and wool, tapestry weave; embroidery
SEE IT IN PERSON
Not currently on view
In the collection of Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago · as of July 2026
Discussion
FROM THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO’S CATALOG
This textile fragment originally adorned a garment made in Byzantine Egypt. Dyers skillfully mixed natural dyes to create a varied color palette. Since few ancient texts discuss dyeing practices, materials and techniques must be reconstructed through scientific analysis. In this example, scientists identified dyes made from indigo plants for blues and greens, weld and tannin plants for yellows, and madder plants and cochineal insects for reds and pinks.
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