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Egyptian or Arab Horse Archer on an Islamic or Byzantine Textile,
Egypt or Byzantium, 6th-7th centuries,
Victoria and Albert Museum 817-1903
Place of origin: Egypt (made) Byzantine (Possibly, made)
Date: ca. AD500-700 (made)
Materials and Techniques: Woven silk
Museum number: 817-1903
Victoria and Albert Museum
A samite medallion, woven in purple and yellow. Egypt or Byzantine, ca, AD500-700. A thick border (29mm wide; floral icons, guilloche) encircles two mounted huntsmen with bows, who are attacking lions/tigers at the horses feet. The warriors wear cloak and the horses have decorative harnesses. On each outer corner of the circle were floral icons which have been cut away. The piece has silvery residue over some sections and has holes. Battles between men and animals symbolised the struggle between good and evil in human nature. Similar design as 2185-1900, 2185A-1900, 2185B-1900, 2186-1900 and 292-1889.
Samite (twill woven silk) was thought to originate from Persia under Sassanian rule (AD224-651). It was commonly decorated with pairs of animals and birds and set in pearled lotus roundels. It is often found in Western burials, within church possessions and along the Silk Road. Byzantine weaving workshops took on the samite technique to make it an essential weave of the period. It was a luxury textile of the Middle Ages brought to Europe when the Crusades opened up direct contact with the East. It was forbidden to the middle classes of France under the sumptuary rules c. 1470.
Victoria and Albert Museum
