Featured Is this curious looking Egyptian(?) needlework lady modern or vintage?

Discussion in 'Textiles, Needle Arts, Clothing' started by Elen Beattie, Sep 30, 2022.

  1. Elen Beattie

    Elen Beattie Well-Known Member

    Hello all! I am definitely out of my comfort zone with needlework/embroidery and am hoping you can help. I picked her up for a mere $5 in an auction because I thought she was interesting and no-one else wanted her. I am curious to know if she is very modern or possible vintage? She has a mid century look to me but the colours are very vibrant which makes me lean toward modern. Is she Egyptian? I should note that the piece is unfinished and on linen. It measures 44"L x 16"W. Any info appreciated, thanks! Image - 2022-09-30T151620.028.jpeg Image - 2022-09-30T154708.696.jpeg Image - 2022-09-30T151609.704.jpeg
     
  2. Debora

    Debora Well-Known Member

    Her head is framed by a Gothic arch so I'd assume she's meant to be Medieval.

    Debora

    659px-Spitzbogen.png
     
  3. Elen Beattie

    Elen Beattie Well-Known Member

    Ahh, ok thank you! I had my doubts about Egyptian-that was how it was listed in the auction :hilarious:
     
  4. Debora

    Debora Well-Known Member

    Unfinished but... It appears she's wearing a wimple underneath her crown.

    Debora

    h2.056ra.jpg
     
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  5. moreotherstuff

    moreotherstuff Izorizent

    "Coptic" was the word that immediately sprang to my mind. But that doesn't mean I know anything about it.
     
  6. evelyb30

    evelyb30 Well-Known Member

    I was thinking Byzantine influence Virgin Mary figure, maybe. Sacred hearts have flames behind them.
     
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  7. Debora

    Debora Well-Known Member

    The Byzantine's used rounded arches in their architecture.

    Debora

    bf4.jpg
     
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  8. evelyb30

    evelyb30 Well-Known Member

    On the other hand, the headdress and the gilding behind her scream Orthodox. Russian Arts and Crafts maybe? I'd have bagged her too and worried about it later.
     
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  9. Elen Beattie

    Elen Beattie Well-Known Member

    Yes! For $5 I'm not losing out on anything. Appreciate all the thoughts thanks! she's interesting :bored:
     
  10. moreotherstuff

    moreotherstuff Izorizent

    I thought the figure has an overall sarcophagus shape, and the face looked like an encaustic funeral mask.
     
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  11. Figtree3

    Figtree3 What would you do if you weren't afraid?

    I just went down a rabbit hole figuring out the symbolism of a flaming chalice. A logo with a flaming chalice is currently a symbol of the Unitarian Universalist movement. It has its origin in symbols related to Jan Hus, a 14th-15th century theologian. One explanation here: https://www.uufayetteville.org/about/our-faith/the-flaming-chalice/

    Of course, it might have nothing to do with this embroidery piece. I would have bought it, too! At first I was going to joke that she was holding an Olympic torch... then found the information above.
     
    Last edited: Oct 2, 2022
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  12. Elen Beattie

    Elen Beattie Well-Known Member

    Thanks for this, interesting read!
     
    Figtree3 likes this.
  13. Born2it

    Born2it Well-Known Member

    Beautiful piece! I’m almost positive it isn’t Unitarian, but cool article! The UU chalice is more flattened. I think I know why someone thought it was Egyptian. Do a Google image search and all you get are sarcophagus images :p

    I often have pretty good luck with image search, but it was an epic fail this time. No matter what I did to the image or how I cropped it, I never got anything even remotely similar
     
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  14. Elen Beattie

    Elen Beattie Well-Known Member

    Same here, but thanks for trying I appreciate it!
     
    Born2it likes this.
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