Woven Interiors: Furnishing Early Medieval Egypt
Through January 5, 2020
In the early medieval era, the eastern Mediterranean’s palaces, villas, and sacred spaces were richly decorated with hangings, curtains, and other luxury fabrics. Bringing together rarely displayed artworks from the fourth to the tenth centuries, this exhibition reveals how textiles infused warmth and beauty into Egypt’s interior spaces.
This exhibition presents 45 exceptional interior textiles from the villas, palaces, churches, mosques, and humble homes of late antique and early medieval Egypt (300–1000). During this period, the eastern Mediterranean experienced profound religious and cultural changes as ancient beliefs transitioned to Christianity and Islam.
These beautiful and rare examples demonstrate how textiles defined spaces and moved ornamental motifs between cultures, over time, and across media. These large-format hangings, covers, and other fabrics were often the most valuable possessions of any household at the time. They served critical physical and social functions alongside more permanent architectural forms. In addition to revealing textiles’ importance and use, Woven Interiors also documents continuities and changes in weaving and aesthetics.
The exhibition was organized with Harvard University's Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection. It features artworks from The Textile Museum Collection and Dumbarton Oaks, together with loans from other major collections, including: Metropolitan Museum of Art; Museum of Fine Arts, Boston; Cleveland Museum of Art; and Art Institute of Chicago.
Woven Interiors is accompanied by a gallery guide and a catalogue, available in the museum shop.
Support for this exhibition and its accompanying catalogue is provided by the Coby Foundation, Ltd., Elisabeth French, Norma and Ted Lonoff, the Markarian Foundation, and Roger and Claire Pratt.
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Hanging with erotes, animals, heads, and garlands (detail), eastern Mediterranean, 4th–5th century. 135 x 77 in. The Textile Museum 71.118. Acquired by George Hewitt Myers in 1950.
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Fragment of hanging with Amazons and Greeks, Egypt, 4th–5th century. 41.75 x 31.5 in. The Textile Museum 71.90. Acquired by George Hewitt Myers in 1946.
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Hanging with pairs of panthers and horses in roundels, eastern Mediterranean, 4th–6th century. 60 x 42.25 in. The Textile Museum 71.51A. Acquired by George Hewitt Myers in 1932.
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Hanging with a garden archway, Egypt, 4th–5th century. 84 x 46 in. The Textile Museum 71.18. Acquired by George Hewitt Myers in 1925.
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Fragment from hanging with figure holding basket, Egypt, 4th–5th century. 19.75 x 16.5 in. The Textile Museum 71.10. Acquired by George Hewitt Myers in 1927.
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Cover with bands of geometric design, eastern Mediterranean, 5th century. 97 x 52.5 in. The Textile Museum 31.11. Acquired by George Hewitt Myers in 1950.
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Hanging with nereids and dolphins in Nilotic setting, Egypt, 4th–6th century. 83.5 x 64 in. The Textile Museum 1.48. Acquired by George Hewitt Myers in 1950.
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Fragment of a hanging or cover, Egypt, 5th–7th century. 19 x 17.75 in. Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection BZ.2010.07.
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Bowl with hunting scene, Constantinople, 5th century. 11 x 11 in. Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection BZ.1947.12.
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Fragment with head and duck in a jeweled trellis, Egypt, early 5th century. 13 x 8.5 in. Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection BZ.1946.16.
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Hanging with horses and lions, eastern Mediterranean, 6th–7th century. Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection BZ.1939.13.
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Fragment of a hanging with two hunters, Egypt, 7th–9th century. Dumbarton Oaks Research Library & Collection BZ.1937.14.
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Hanging with depiction of Hestia Polyolbus, Egypt, 6th century, Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection BZ.1929.1.
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Hanging with depiction of Virgin and Child, Egypt, 6th century, The Cleveland Museum of Art 1967.144. Leonard C. Hanna, Jr. Fund.
Hanging with erotes, animals, heads, and garlands (detail), eastern Mediterranean, 4th–5th century. 135 x 77 in. The Textile Museum 71.118. Acquired by George Hewitt Myers in 1950.
Fragment of hanging with Amazons and Greeks, Egypt, 4th–5th century. 41.75 x 31.5 in. The Textile Museum 71.90. Acquired by George Hewitt Myers in 1946.
Hanging with pairs of panthers and horses in roundels, eastern Mediterranean, 4th–6th century. 60 x 42.25 in. The Textile Museum 71.51A. Acquired by George Hewitt Myers in 1932.
Hanging with a garden archway, Egypt, 4th–5th century. 84 x 46 in. The Textile Museum 71.18. Acquired by George Hewitt Myers in 1925.
Fragment from hanging with figure holding basket, Egypt, 4th–5th century. 19.75 x 16.5 in. The Textile Museum 71.10. Acquired by George Hewitt Myers in 1927.
Cover with bands of geometric design, eastern Mediterranean, 5th century. 97 x 52.5 in. The Textile Museum 31.11. Acquired by George Hewitt Myers in 1950.
Hanging with nereids and dolphins in Nilotic setting, Egypt, 4th–6th century. 83.5 x 64 in. The Textile Museum 1.48. Acquired by George Hewitt Myers in 1950.
Fragment of a hanging or cover, Egypt, 5th–7th century. 19 x 17.75 in. Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection BZ.2010.07.
Bowl with hunting scene, Constantinople, 5th century. 11 x 11 in. Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection BZ.1947.12.
Fragment with head and duck in a jeweled trellis, Egypt, early 5th century. 13 x 8.5 in. Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection BZ.1946.16.
Hanging with horses and lions, eastern Mediterranean, 6th–7th century. Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection BZ.1939.13.
Fragment of a hanging with two hunters, Egypt, 7th–9th century. Dumbarton Oaks Research Library & Collection BZ.1937.14.
Hanging with depiction of Hestia Polyolbus, Egypt, 6th century, Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection BZ.1929.1.
Hanging with depiction of Virgin and Child, Egypt, 6th century, The Cleveland Museum of Art 1967.144. Leonard C. Hanna, Jr. Fund.
Highlights Tours
Free docent-led tours of the galleries are offered Saturdays and Sundays at 1:30 p.m. Free student-led tours of the exhibition "Fast Fashion/Slow Art" are offered Saturdays at 1 p.m. at the Corcoran School of the Arts & Design.
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Washington, DC 20052
Phone: 202-994-5200
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