Cover
17th century
Medium
Linen, plain weave; edged with linen, plain weave; embroidered with silk floss in antique hem, back and double running stitches; edged with silk, countered weft twining with extended ground weft cut fringe
Dimensions
150 × 96.6 cm (59 × 38 in.)
Classification
textile
Department
Textiles
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
24937
Art Historical Context
This exquisite 17th-century linen cover, housed in the Art Institute of Chicago's Textiles Department, invites us into the world of early modern craftsmanship. Measuring 150 × 96.6 cm (59 × 38 in.), it exemplifies the fine needlework traditions of the period, when embroidered textiles adorned homes, beds, and ceremonial spaces across Europe. Though the artist remains unknown, such pieces were often created by skilled women in domestic settings, blending utility with artistry. The cover's foundation is a plain weave linen, durable and versatile for everyday use, edged and embroidered with vibr...
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...