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Early Wool Skirt Fragment
A wool tapestry fragment, woven with parallel rows of curled forms, possibly representing horns to symbolise the moon; woven in red, cream and yellow against a blue grey ground. The tapestry edged with a wide red wool band.
Central Asia, Taklamakan desert, Shanpula area, 2nd century BC – 2nd century AD
The date confirmed by Carbon 4 dating
Height of textile: 31 cm
Width of textile: 33 cm
This fragment (shown on its side to display the design) formed the lower horizontal decorative register on a long gathered skirt. The upper part of the skirt composed of narrow horizontal bands of twill in either red or ochre coloured wool; the hem finished with a braided flounce of red.
For comparison:
An identical example is in the Abegg Stiftung, Riggisberg, Switzerland
Illustrated:
Fabulous Creatures from the Desert Sands, fig. 89, p 85., Abegg-Stiftung 2001
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