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Tokyo National Museum's 140th Anniversary Thematic Exhibitions: Coptic Textiles: Woven Designs of the Coptic Church of Egypt

  • Image of "Textile Fragment, Saint design, Mid-Coptic period, 6th century (Gift of Mr. Yamaguchi Tsutomu)"

    Textile Fragment, Saint design, Mid-Coptic period, 6th century (Gift of Mr. Yamaguchi Tsutomu)

    Japanese Gallery (Honkan) Room T1
    February 5, 2013 (Tue) - March 31, 2013 (Sun)

    From the 3rd century to the 13th century, Christians in Egypt known as Copts decorated their clothes with quaint designs using tapestry weave, under the influence of Mediterranean culture. In the 19th century, examples of Coptic textiles grew popular with European collectors, to the extent that the word “Coptic” became a substitute term for tapestry weaving. This exhibition displays 32 items from the Tokyo National Museum collection of Coptic textile fragments, which have never been displayed until now.

    Tapestry weave is a type of plain weave, the most basic of weaving structures, in which weft threads of different colors are woven with intricate interchanges between the colored threads. Through this technique, it is possible to produce on one fabric variously sized designs of figures, plants, animals, and other patterns. The Copts used tapestry weave to render the motifs that were dear to them, with the finished pieces becoming adornments for clothes, or hanging decorations in rooms. The depictions of saints, angels and animals closely connected with Christianity possess an undoubted charm.

    This exhibition also features seven items on loan from the Joshibi Art Museum (Joshibi University of Art and Design, Tokyo), which preserves Coptic textiles in the form of original garments. We hope visitors can imagine the unique Christian outlook and lifestyle of Copts, which led to the unique textile designs on display.

     

Major works in this exhibition
* Works listed below are in the TNM Collection unless otherwise indicated.
Tunic, Figure, bird and flower design, Late Coptic period, 8th century (Lent by Joshibi Art Museum, Tokyo, on exhibit through March 3, 2013)
Textile Fragment, Figure, angel, and flowering plant design, Mid-Coptic period, 6th century (Lent by Joshibi Art Museum, Tokyo, on exhibit through March 3, 2013)
Textile Fragment, Saint design, Mid-Coptic period, 6th century (Gift of Mr. Yamaguchi Tsutomu)