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Coptic shirt
This piece belongs to the collection of Walter Massey, and is probably
from 5-6th century Egypt. It belonged to a coptic christian
population, and was woven on a very wide loom. The original fabric was
woven to an cross-shape, to accomodate for the pattern. Small pieces
were cut from it to shape the sleeves, and the garment was completed
by two lateral seams. Sometimes the armpits were not sewn together,
perhaps for better ventilation and freedom of movement. To give the
shirt a better shape and to fit it better to the body, a (sometimes
curved) horizontal fold was created in the middle of the garment,
approximately at the solar plexus level, both in front and
back. Embroidery decorated the neckline and ends of sleeves.
Based on: Cut My Cote; Dorothy K.Burnham;The Royal Ontario
Museum; 1973; MacKinnon-Moncur |
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