Late Roman Textiles

The MFA’s collection includes more than 1,000 fragments and a few complete textiles from Egypt dating to the Late Roman period (approximately 300–650 CE). The fragments are the remains of larger household furnishings and clothing. Most are made of linen with tapestry woven decoration featuring geometric designs and classical, Nilotic, and even Christian imagery. The textiles’ brilliant colors and patterning hints at the bright clothing and lavish furnishings that decorated Egyptian homes of the period.