ABSTRACT
The focus of this paper is a rare, red wool, man’s tunic (291–1891), with appliquéd tapestry decoration, from Egypt in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A), London. The tunic was investigated and conserved in preparation for display. Due to a lack of archaeological records, the tunic had been dated by stylistic comparison with other textiles of known provenance to circa AD 600–799. The tunic was in poor structural condition and was heavily stained from burial with an unusual pattern worthy of further investigation. The V&A formed a collaborative partnership with the University of Bradford to carry out a comprehensive programme of scientific analysis of the tunic including multispectral imaging, analytical scanning electron microscopy and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The aim of the project was to expand the object’s biography and to provide more specific information relating to the tunic’s age and provenance. This paper focuses on the project methodology, the range and usefulness of the analytical techniques applied and the practicalities of carrying out the work in a museum. Dye analysis (HPLC-DAD) was commissioned from the Royal Institute for Cultural Heritage in Brussels, and Carbon 14 dating was supported by the European Commission on Roman Clothing Dress-ID Project.
