Band with Stylized Animals
Byzantine
This is a tapestry woven band, with the design executed in dark blue wool. The visible warps are yellow in color. The band contains seven circles of a regularized, twisting vine inhabited by a sequence of alternating animals. Perhaps they are lions or hares. Every other animal wears a ribbon round its neck.
The borders of the band are created out of thick zigzagging vines. The outer empty spaces along this vine sprout acanthus or grape leaves. The inner sides of the vine border are filled diamond shapes. The designs running along these two thick vines are created in a slightly darker and yellower thread than the other areas of undyed yarn. Details of the animals and the outer vine borders are executed in flying shuttle using undyed thread.
Blue and buff wool with linen threads on wool warps
Byzantine period