TWO COPTIC TAPESTRY FRAGMENTS Egypt, 6th - 8th century  Slit tapestry-woven in coloured silks with cotton or linen, against an off-white field with a central chalice beneath a cross, flanked by a pair of birds facing one-another, the spot motif laid on hand-spun linen, the oval piece embedded in an ecru mount, framed and glazed, 6cm x 10.5cm, and another, similar, woven with two birds beneath a colourful arching branch, 6.5cm x 11cm, 17cm x 19cm each, including frame. It is hard to confirm whether the chalice and the cross on these fragments refer to the offices of the cupbearer (Saqi) or were instead Christian symbols. Surely though, fragments like these are rare survivals. Similar examples are in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York (1979.102), Boston Museum of Fine Arts (37.380), and Winkworth Art Gallery, University of Manchester (Inv. 8875). For extra reference, please see Clive Rogers, Early Islamic Textiles, Brighton, 1983, fig.4, p.6.