Roundel (Orbiculus)

Accession number	BZ.1953.2.53
Attribution and Date	Egypt, late 7th–10th c.
Measurements	H. (warp) 27.6 cm × W. (weft) 27.3 cm (10 7/8 × 10 3/4 in.)
Technique and Material	Tapestry weave in polychrome wool and undyed linen
Acquisition history	Crocker Collection, San Francisco, Mrs. William Henry Crocker (Ethel Willard Sperry Crocker, 1861–1934); Loaned to the San Francisco Museum of Art until 1953; Gift of Mrs. Andre de Limur (Ethel Mary Crocker de Limur, 1891–1964), Washington, DC, in 1953; Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection, Washington, DC.

This medallion is rendered in tapestry weave in beige, red, orange, light green, green, green-blue, blue-black, yellow tan, and brown. Remnants of the surrounding plain-weave ground from which the medallion has been cut are visible at top right. At center, confronted animal figures are enclosed in a small medallion comprising various geometric shapes. The main field is populated by animals and small human figures set in a flowering vine. The outer frame consists of a scrolling floral pattern set between multicolored stepped motifs.

The size of this medallion suggests it served as a tunic decoration. Although Deborah Thompson interpreted the iconography as a degradation of medallions depicting the life of Joseph (see BZ.1953.2.114), this interpretation demands that viewers could read these highly abstracted figures as part of the biblical story.D. Thompson, “Catalogue of Textiles in the Dumbarton Oaks Collection” (unpublished catalogue, Washington, DC, 1976), no. 92. The design might also reflect the fruitful vine pattern seen on many medallions (such as BZ.1933.18a–b and BZ.1953.2.118). Medallions with dark red backgrounds and abstracted motifs like this one were common on late antique dress (see, for example, BZ.1953.2.113, BZ.1953.2.114, BZ.1953.2.122, and BZ.1953.2.124).

—Elizabeth Dospěl Williams, May 2019

Notes

Accession number	BZ.1953.2.53
Attribution and Date	Egypt, late 7th–10th c.
Measurements	H. (warp) 27.6 cm × W. (weft) 27.3 cm (10 7/8 × 10 3/4 in.)
Technique and Material	Tapestry weave in polychrome wool and undyed linen
Acquisition history	Crocker Collection, San Francisco, Mrs. William Henry Crocker (Ethel Willard Sperry Crocker, 1861–1934); Loaned to the San Francisco Museum of Art until 1953; Gift of Mrs. Andre de Limur (Ethel Mary Crocker de Limur, 1891–1964), Washington, DC, in 1953; Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection, Washington, DC.

D. Thompson, “Catalogue of Textiles in the Dumbarton Oaks Collection” (unpublished catalogue, Washington, DC, 1976), no. 92.

Accession number	BZ.1953.2.53
Attribution and Date	Egypt, late 7th–10th c.
Measurements	H. (warp) 27.6 cm × W. (weft) 27.3 cm (10 7/8 × 10 3/4 in.)
Technique and Material	Tapestry weave in polychrome wool and undyed linen
Acquisition history	Crocker Collection, San Francisco, Mrs. William Henry Crocker (Ethel Willard Sperry Crocker, 1861–1934); Loaned to the San Francisco Museum of Art until 1953; Gift of Mrs. Andre de Limur (Ethel Mary Crocker de Limur, 1891–1964), Washington, DC, in 1953; Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection, Washington, DC.