Url
	https://dhprojects.bc.edu/s/TellalianTextiles/item/2007
Title
	Square Decorative Panel from a Tunic A
Description
	This square decorative panel is (along with <a href="https://dhprojects.bc.edu/s/TellalianTextiles/item/2008#?c=&m=&s=&cv=&xywh=-488%2C-1%2C4575%2C4816">McMullen 2018.20.2</a>) one of two matching fragments in the collection from the same tunic. Both panels consist of brown and purples threads, and 12 of the same rabbit medallions border a single nude human figure on each square. </br></br>

These panels were part of the same tunic that bore the two Sleeve Decorations in this collection (<a href="https://dhprojects.bc.edu/s/TellalianTextiles/item/2005#?c=&m=&s=&cv=&xywh=-223%2C-2581%2C7553%2C7950">McMullen 2018.19.1</a> and <a href="https://dhprojects.bc.edu/s/TellalianTextiles/item/2006#?c=&m=&s=&cv=&xywh=-225%2C-2592%2C7618%2C8019">McMullen 2018.19.2</a>). On decorative tunics from this period, such panels would have been woven into the lower front of the tunic, and were known as <i>orbiculi</i> (if circular) or <i>tabulae</i> (if square), and would have matched the style, iconography, and color of the sleeves. It is possible that now-lost vertical bands, known as <i>clavi</i> (such as <a href="https://dhprojects.bc.edu/s/TellalianTextiles/item/2011#?c=&m=&s=&cv=&xywh=-2492%2C0%2C6706%2C7059">McMullen 2018.23</a>) would have run from the tunic’s shoulder to its hemline. If <i>clavi</i> were present, the person who wore this tunic would have likely been of a higher social status. The purple coloring—the rarest and most elite of dyes—almost certainly indicates that this tunic belonged to someone of a higher social status, despite the relatively rudimentary patterning.
Date
	7th century
Type
	Textile
Spatial Coverage
	Egypt
Temporal Coverage
	7th century
Provenance
	Purchased from Nanette R. Kelekian on 24 March 1984. Previously in possession of Charles Dikran Kelekian, Ancient Arts, New York, NY. Provenance unknown prior to Kelekian family.
Repository
	McMullen Museum of Art, Boston College, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Materials
	Linen and wool
Dimension (in)
	6.5 x 5.75 in
Dimension (cm)
	16.5 x 14.5 cm
Accession Number
	McMullen 2018.20.1
Tellalian Number
	Tellalian 1984-00400-1
Donor
	Barbara and Donald Tellalian
Exhibition History
	No known exhibition history
Publication History
	No known publication history
Conservation History
	No known conservation history
Rights
	https://creativecommons.org/share-your-work/public-domain/ Public Domain

--