Pirahan, 10th Century, Egypt

Located in the Textile Museum, Washington D.C.

1st picture was taken by Jennifer Davis, the 2nd picture is from The Textile Museum Journal

 

TM Inv. No. 73.44: Tiraz Pirahan (for a child) , Located at the Textile Museum in Washington D.C.

Made: Egypt
Early Date: 919
Late Date: 919
Materials: linen/silk
Structure/Technique:plain weave/embroidery ~ couching ~ back stitch
Yarn: warp;linen;S;;16/CM;undyed
Yarn: weft; linen;S;;13/CM;undyed
Yarn: embroidery;silk;;;;red
Markings:data input GF 2/23/96 from Dated Tiraz
Descriptions iraz tunic of undyed linen with binding at neck and edges hemmed and 2 red embroidered inscriptions in kufi with elongated stems and one corner inscription

Dimensions: Warp length, large:3.22 feet,0.98 meters
Weft length, large:2.08 feet,0.63 meters
Image height, large:0.06 feet,0.02 meters

Observations from Textile Museum Visit by Roxane Farabi, Baroness Liadan, and Mistress Rose Otter: The pirahan has an unusual neckline variation with the front of the right shoulder crossing over the back shoulder to form the opening for the neck (please see diagram below. The button is a cloth button made of the same fabric as the shoulder. The pirahan may have been made from leftover fabric. The front of the pirahan has an unsual scalloped edge which is off center. This scallop is not repeated in the back.

Tiraz embroidery is on the back of the left arm. The embroidery is in red silk in what appears to be a chain stitch. However, the fragility of the garment, prevented us from being allowed to view the back-side of the embroidery to be certain. While couching and back stitch are listed in the museum information, we felt that this was unlikely.

Diagram of Pirahan (Front and Back View Combined) Note: Tiraz embroidery only occurs on the back of the pirahan and scallop only occurs on the front of the pirahan. Drawings are not to scale!