An unknown collector of Late Antique textiles from Egypt: Carl Kallenberg (1825–1900) and his 'Koptische Stoffreste'.

This article focuses on Carl Kallenberg, a nineteenth-century Swabian landowner and merchant, and his acquisition of Late Antique textiles from Egypt, highlighting the early interest and collecting practices surrounding these artifacts. Drawing on Kallenberg's 1890 essay and the unpublished purchase and sales records of Swiss archaeologist and dealer Robert Forrer, the study traces the provenance of Kallenberg's textiles—primarily acquired in Saqqara—and their subsequent dispersal to various European museums and private collectors. The paper contextualizes the emergence of a "textile mania" in the late nineteenth century, sparked by dealers like Theodor Graf and scholars such as Josef Karabacek, who emphasized the historical and artistic significance of these textiles, including their ancient tapestry techniques and oriental influences. It also outlines the challenges in establishing precise findspots and provenance due to nineteenth-century antiquities trade practices, while providing a detailed list of institutions and collectors associated with Kallenberg's textiles through Forrer's records.