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Roundel
Unknown6th–7th century
Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum
New York, United States
Medallion with polychrome figures on a red ground. In the center field, a haloed rider on a prancing horse carries a staff or scepter topped with a trefoil, and holds a ring. A lion below looks back over his shoulder. Two additional figures, one at each side, wear spotted green clothing. The rider is in pink with a flowing blue cape. Inner border of polychrome connected flower heads on a natural ground; outer border of polychrome step pattern on dark blue ground. The image is said to represent the emperor with two Persian prisoners, a reference to the victory of Heraclius (617 - 641) over the Persians in 627.
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Details
- Title: Roundel
- Creator: Unknown
- Date Created: 6th–7th century
- Physical Dimensions: w215 x h235 cm
- Type: Roundel
- Rights: Gift of John Pierpont Morgan
- Medium: Medium: wool, linen Technique: slit tapestry with supplementary weft wrapping
- Provenance: Before 1902, Stanislaus Baron collection1901 purchased by John Pierpont Morgan, given to Hewitt sisters1902, Cooper Union Museum
- Exhibitions: Paris, France, Petit Palais. L'Art Copte, June 17 through September 15, 1964 (no. 273, p. 221)Vienna, Austria, Akademie der Bildenden Kunst. Fruhchristliche und Koptische Kunst, March 11 through May 3, 1964 (no. 631, p. 204)Zurich, Switzerland, Kunsthaus. Koptische Kunst, Christentum am Nil, November 15, 1963 through January 15, 1964 (no. 302, ill. p. 119)Essen, Germany, Villa Hugel. Koptische Kunst, Christentum am Nil, May 3 through August 15,1963 (no. 351, ill.)New York, NY, Queens College. The World as a Symbol, April-May, 1959New York, NY, Cooper Union Museum. Ends and beginnings, May-August 1957Baltimore, MD. Early Christian and Byzantine Art, 1947 (no. 813)New York, NY, Brooklyn Museum. Der Nersersian, Sirarpie,1941Worcester Museum, "The Dark Ages", 1937
- Dimensions: H x W: 23.5 x 21.5 cm (9 1/4 x 8 7/16 in.)
- Bibliography: Lymes, Russel. More than Meets the Eye. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press, 1981, p. 25.R. Berliner. "Horsemen in Tapestry Roundels found in Egypt," Textile Museum Journal, V.1, #2, Dec. 1966The Horizon History of Christianity. 1964, p. 122.Apollo Magazine, October 1963, p. 292.Cooper Union Museum. Illustrated Survey of the Collections. New York, 1957.F. Kendrick, "Catalogue of textiles from Burying Grounds of Egypt" Vol 3, London, 1922, p. 24, plate 13R. M. Riefstahl. "Early textiles in the Cooper Union Collection" in 'Art in America' Vol. 3, 1915, p 308, fig 2
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