Egypt’s earliest memories were printed on papyrus, and its more modern ones, woven into tapestry. Tapestry-making has directed stories in Egypt for well over nine centuries, becoming elemental to both beauty and storytelling, warm homes and craftsmanship. By fickle, flickering lamplight early Copts redefined tapestry-making on the Mediterranean, their skill sets dissolving into masterworks that still, to this day, are lauded for being a “bridge between the art of the ancient world and the art of the Middle Ages.” The craft came with its own morbidities; as paganism faded from Egyptian ideology, so did the practice of mummification. As a result, emphasis was then placed on thread: on the clothes, furnishings, and tapestries buried with the dead. Although few have survived to the present day, many tapestries were used to embellish Church walls, considered religious “wall hangings” that served both decorative and spiritual ends. Coptic tapestries interwove timelessness and artistry; from woolen wefts on linen warps to bright white cotton, fabrics were alternated between in order to ensure durability and beauty alike. Embroidery became a staple of most tapestries, including less traditional carpet variants and ornamental motifs. Despite the outreach … Continue reading Woven Storytelling: Coptic Tapestries