Linen textiles were deeply intertwined with pharaonic Egyptian culture throughout its 3,000-year history. The importance of this fabric can be seen in the surviving material culture of this ancient civilization, such as the representations of figures wearing bright white linen garments in tomb paintings and intricately wrapped and carefully shrouded mummified bodies. However, unraveling the lives of the people involved in the production of these textiles is quite challenging, as these individuals are relatively invisible in the historical and archaeological record. One way to approach this problem is to examine the textiles they created with their own hands. Each thread that was spun and woven was created by communities of practice, which—through a process of situated learning—developed a shared repertoire of techniques, skills, and preferences. When we look at a handmade textile, whether ancient or modern, we are seeing the results of the countless choices made in each stage of its production.

In this Flash Talk, Heidi Hilliker (PhD candidate in Egyptology) investigates a collection of mortuary textiles from Theban tombs of 21st and 22nd Dynasty Egypt, evaluating local similarities and differences in textile production. The textiles in question, which come from tombs at Deir el-Bahari and Bab el-Gasus, display striped patterns in undyed, blue, and red thread along the selvage (the vertical edge of the cloth formed during the weaving process). While these patterns undoubtedly served a decorative purpose, this talk argues that they also conveyed information about the makers themselves. A communities-of-practice approach suggests that these striped markings encapsulate the traditions learned within a network of weavers and may even represent intentional forms of maker’s marks used by workshops, groups, or individual weavers.

Kelsey Museum Flash Talks are 15-minute Zoom lectures by Kelsey curators, staff members, researchers, graduate students, and guests talking about their recent research or current projects. Each presentation is followed by 15 minutes of Q&A. Flash Talks are free and open to all visitors.

To register for this Flash Talk, fill out the form at https://forms.gle/DnkDqjvRbjiLbnsi9. Zoom log-in information will be provided upon registration. Please sign up by 9:30 AM the day of the event to ensure you receive a confirmation email containing the access code.