Pair of socks

Item

Title
Pair of socks
Description
The Romano-Egyptian socks were excavated from ancient Oxyrhynchus, a Greek colony on the Nile in central Egypt at the end of the 19th century. They use a technique called nålbinding which predates modern knitting. The socks were made with red wool and each sock has a divided big toe so as to be worn with sandals. The construction of these socks, which have a turned heel, began at the toe and finished at the ankle with added stitches in the front to form an under-flap, ending in a loop, for fastening or tying.
Creator
unknown Egyptian
Date
250-420 AD
Coverage
Al Bahnasā (inhabited place)
Type
Socks
Format
Nålbinding (sewing stitch)
Medium
wool (textile)
Provenance
Given by Robert Taylor Esq., 'Kytes', Watford in 1900; Estate of Major Myers.
Identifier
2085&A-1900
Access Rights
Personal use access with restrictions (Maximum 4000 copies, or 5 years digital use; No book jacket, or homepage lead image use; Maximum A5 print / 768px digital use; Images © Victoria and Albert Museum, London)

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Tags

Ancient Greece Ancient Egypt socks coptic