1975.41.53: Section of an Architectural Frieze
Architectural ElementsA horizontal roughly rectangular block of carved beige-white limestone contains three-dimensional images of animals surrounded by vines. A curling vine starts at the top left corner of the frieze, curves to the bottom edge, and wraps around a frightened rabbit slightly left of center that is looking over its shoulder to the left with its ears down and foot raised. The vine splits and continues to the right, where it too wraps around a gazelle or antelope facing towards the right looking downwards with at least one of its front legs raised.
Identification and Creation
- Object Number
- 1975.41.53
- Title
- Section of an Architectural Frieze
- Classification
- Architectural Elements
- Work Type
- architectural element
- Date
- 5th Century
- Places
- Creation Place: Ancient & Byzantine World, Africa, Egypt (Ancient)
- Period
- Byzantine period
- Culture
- Coptic
- Persistent Link
- https://hvrd.art/o/291103
Physical Descriptions
- Medium
- Limestone
- Technique
- Relief
- Dimensions
- 34.7 x 57.5 cm (13 11/16 x 22 5/8 in.)
Provenance
- Recorded Ownership History
- Unknown, formerly of the Kevorkian Collection.
Acquisition and Rights
- Credit Line
- Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Gift of The Hagop Kevorkian Foundation in memory of Hagop Kevorkian
- Accession Year
- 1975
- Object Number
- 1975.41.53
- Division
- Asian and Mediterranean Art
- Contact
- am_asianmediterranean@harvard.edu
- Permissions
-
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Descriptions
- Description
- Section of an architectural frieze decorated in relief. Continuous vine scroll forms loops and has spiney foliate tendrils which continue from the ends of vine offshoots. Within the loops are the foreparts of animals. In this preserved section of the frieze, a hare with head turned back populates one loop, and a charging gazelle or antelope the other. Both preserved animals have stippled hides. A plain, narrow fillet borders the bottom edge of the block.
Publication History
- Mary McWilliams and Jochen Sokoly, Social Fabrics: Inscribed Textiles from Medieval Egyptian Tombs, exh. cat. (Cambridge, MA, February 22, 2022), pp. 102-03, cat. 20
Exhibition History
Verification Level
This record has been reviewed by the curatorial staff but may be incomplete. Our records are frequently revised and enhanced. For more information please contact the Division of Asian and Mediterranean Art at am_asianmediterranean@harvard.edu