For centuries, the native weavers of Egypt were famous for the richness of their work. Using intricate patterns and vivid colors, Coptic weavers created masterpieces of textile art. Coptic textiles, used for rugs, wall hangings and clothing appliques, were exported throughout the Roman and Byzantine empires. However, the finest surviving examples come from Egypt itself, where a dry climate has preserved the delicate fabric. Intimate in scale yet monumental in vision, these woven pictures speak of a world alive with color and movement.

This textile fragment features a repeating motif of two birds, possibly ducks, standing on either side of a blossoming plant. The stand facing outwards with their heads turned back to the plant. The plant itself has three stalks that rise over the birds and terminate in flowers.