Tunic with Dionysian Motifs Egypt ca. 600–800 CE Wool Jefferson University, T&CC 1986.1.224
The bands on this fragment were probably clavi (decorative elements that extended down the front of a tunic). When a previous owner divided the tunic, the repeating pattern was interrupted. Through close study of this pattern and an analysis of the weave structure, Rachel Grand (BMC ‘21) discovered that this fragment is almost identical to one at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Additional research is currently underway to confirm the connection between the Jefferson University and MFA textiles.
Two Tabulae with Birds Egypt ca. 300–700 CE Wool Jefferson University, T&CC 1978.19, T&CC 1978.20
These two fragments entered the Textile & Costume Collection at Jefferson University as separate objects after a dealer or collector cut them from a tunic following their excavation. Miranda Johnson (HC ‘19) and Alexandra Stern (HC ‘20) noticed similarities between the pieces and confirmed their connection through scientific tests of the materials, including dye and fiber analyses.
Two Tabulae with Birds Egypt ca. 300–700 CE Wool Jefferson University, T&CC 1978.19, T&CC 1978.20
Although the depiction of a bird in each of these textiles is quite different, their similarities in color and external border design made students Alexandra Stern (HC ’20) and Miranda Johnson (HC ’19) wonder if they were cut from the same original textile. Both fragments come from Jefferson University’s Textiles and Costumes Collection, but limited documentation required further analysis to substantiate the connection. Stern and Johnson worked together to perform scientific analysis on these textiles over the course of the fall 2018 semester. X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectra from both textiles showed high iron levels in the beige and purple decorative design, while the darker, orange borders showed high levels of bromine. Liquid-Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS) was also performed, and the spectra of the orange backgrounds displayed peaks corresponding to madder and weld dyes. Based on scientific tests such as these, Stern and Johnson were able to conclude that these textiles were likely “cut from the same cloth.