VI

EARLY TAPESTRIES

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A few very early examples of these tapestry fabricsare in the Museum at Cairo, taken from the tomb ofThoutmdsis III., 18th dynasty (b.c. 1500-1400). Thesefabrics are of linen, the ornament consisting of lotusflowers and birds in red,blue, and green linen «threads.

Some interestingillustrations of thisperiod are to be foundin The Arts and Craftsof Ancient Egypt , byDr. Flinders Petrie.

Numerous examples,however, of a later datehave been found in theNecropolis of Akhmim,which marks the siteof Panopolis, a citynoted for its fine linenindustry during theCoptic period in Egypt(A.D. 300-700).

The illustrationsgiven on plate 8 are

characteristic of these tapestries, and the patterning used duringthe first few centuries of our era. They undoubtedly evince a strongGraeco-Roman influence in the detail and the arrangement of thepattern.

Although, as already explained, it is outside the province of this

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DOU5LE CLOTH ,n BRPWN t>YELLOW.

Fig. 10.—Peruvian Cloth.