Social Fabrics: Inscribed Textiles from Medieval Egyptian Tombs—Exhibition Preview

“Social Fabrics,” an exhibition opening at the Harvard Art Museums in January 2022, brings together a selection of Egyptian textiles from the ninth through twelfth centuries that are distinctive for the Arabic inscriptions woven, embroidered, or painted within them. In this talk, Curator Mary McWilliams will discuss key themes and share highlights of the exhibition in this sneak peek just for Fellows.

TAKE A CLOSER LOOK:

+ Exhibition—"Social Fabrics: Inscribed Textiles from Medieval Egyptian Tombs": https://harvardartmuseums.org/exhibitions/5836/social-fabrics-inscribed-textiles-from-medieval-egyptian-tombs

+ Read article “Unraveling the (Production) Secrets of an Egyptian Textile” by Julie Wertz: https://harvardartmuseums.org/article/unraveling-the-production-secrets-of-an-egyptian-textile

+ Watch Art Talk: Up Close and Personal—Looking at Ancient Textiles with Julie Wertz: https://vimeo.com/586376021

+ Cuff band with animals in interlocking scrolls, Late 4th-early 5th century, Textile, Harvard Art Museums, Gift of Benjamin and Lilian Hertzberg, 2004.204. https://hvrd.art/o/54963

+ Large Cover or Shroud, 5th-6th century, Textile, Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Gift of The Hagop Kevorkian Foundation in memory of Hagop Kevorkian, 1975.41.28. https://hvrd.art/o/288851

+ Textile Society of America 2020 Symposium Presentation: https://youtu.be/rldL6jtoyQE

SPEAKERS:

+ Mary McWilliams is the Norma Jean Calderwood Curator of Islamic and Later Indian Art, Harvard Art Museums;

+ Susanne Ebbinghaus, the George M.A. Hanfmann Curator of Ancient Art and Head of the Division of Asian and Mediterranean Art, will offer introductory remarks.

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This conversation was made possible by our generous supporters; an international community of art lovers who generously support the Harvard Art Museums’ mission to promote knowledge about and appreciation of art through exhibitions, teaching, research, professional training, and public education. Learn more https://www.harvardartmuseums.org/support.

Recorded April 1, 2021. © President and Fellows of Harvard College. For questions related to permission for commercial use of this video, please contact the Department of Digital Imaging and Visual Resources at [email protected].