Bag (Beaded)
18th century
Medium
Silk, simple twisted looping and twisted looping; beaded with glass beads; embroidered with silk floss in half-cross stitches; drawstring of silk in oblique interlacing with simple looping; beaded; lined with linen, warp-float faced satin weave
Dimensions
12.1 × 8 cm (4 3/4 × 3 1/8 in.)
Classification
textile
Department
Textiles
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
68882
Art Historical Context
This delicate beaded bag, crafted in the 18th century, exemplifies exquisite craftsmanship of period textiles, likely serving as a fashionable accessory for carrying small essentials like coins or sewing notions. Measuring just 12.1 × 8 cm, its petite scale suggests it was a personal luxury item, possibly a reticule or drawstring pouch worn by women of means. Housed in the Art Institute Chicago's Textiles Department, it reflects the era's blend of functionality and ornamentation, when such bags transitioned from utilitarian pouches to statement pieces adorned with beads and embroidery. The ba...
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...