Coptic Textile Fragment Group with Roman Soldiers. 6th century AD. A group of tapestry fragments in silk and wool from a tunic or wall hanging, representing harvest scenes and scenes of Roman soldiers hunting, comprising: a) two parallel segmenta or loroi showing two soldiers in green belted sleeved tunics fighting a bear with spear and shield, divided by helmetted heads, foliage and animal images from the second group of hunters on horseback, dressed in a similar kind of tunic, but off-white in colour, red cloak and black fitted trousers; a third hunter is visible in the left corner; b) a round patch, or orbiculus, with five youths harvesting, two playing musical instruments, another hunting scene to the left, with a soldier wearing a cloak, a tunic and wide Persian trousers, chasing a lion with a sword and holding a small shield, two other animals to the upper part; c) a long segment (clavus) with a hunting scene comprising a cavalryman in green mantle, off-white tunic, shield and sword, a Nubian servant in exomis and holding a shield, chasing wild horses, antelopes, goats and hares, a third horseman half visible on the right; d) a small fragment of clavus with a playing putto; e) a corner fragment of a tapestry showing two soldiers hunting, one with a cross traced as deigmaton on the round shield and a semi-spatha in his right hand, both dressed in Gothic tunics of green and off-white colour, black trousers and red sagia, escaping animals surrounding.Cf. Rutschowscaya, M., Coptic Fabrics, Paris, 1990, pp.41, 103-105, 117; Fluck, C., Vogelsang-Eastwood, Riding Costume in Egypt, origin and appearance, Leiden, Boston, 2004, figs.105 and esp. Col. fig.41.23 grams total, 3.4-28cm (1 1/4 - 11"). Property of a Kensington gentleman; acquired from Hermann Historica, Germany, auction 67, part of lot 2025; accompanied by an archaeological report by Dr Raffaele D'Amato; this lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by AIAD certificate number no.10681-174371.Tabby technique on linen and wool. It is highly probable that this tapestry was part of a tunic decoration, with (a) forming the sleeves; the clavi (c-d) running vertically on the breast; and the corner fragment (e) forming the lower part of the tunic. The upper fragment (b) may be a part of collar decoration. The representation of military characters, the red colour of the background, and the hunting parties – often associated with military training– indicate the likelihood that these are fragments from the military tunic of a high-ranking officer. [6]