Apparel made into cushion
Unknown Artist
17th century
Medium
Silk; metal
Dimensions
19 x 25 in. (48.2 x 63.5 cm)
Classification
Textiles-Miscellaneous
Culture
Spanish
Department
Robert Lehman Collection
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Robert Lehman Collection, 1975
Accession Number
1975.1.1895
Tags
Art Historical Context
This charming 17th-century Spanish, titled *Apparel made into cushion transforms luxurious apparel into a practical yet opulent cushion cover. Measuring 19 x 25 inches (48.2 x 63.5 cm), it is crafted from shimmering silk adorned with metal threads, a technique that highlights the era's mastery of embroidery and weaving. Floral motifs, suggested by its tags, likely bloom across its surface, evoking the lavish decorative arts of Baroque Spain. In 17th-century Spain, textiles like this were symbols of wealth and status, often featuring intricate metalwork—gold or silver threads—that caught the l...