Cover or Handkerchief
1800/1850
Medium
Embroidered in design of trees and tents
Dimensions
85.7 × 86.6 cm (33 3/4 × 34 1/8 in.)
Classification
textile
Department
Textiles
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
79206
Art Historical Context
This exquisite embroidered textile, titled *Cover or Handkerchief*, dates to 1800 and 1850 and hails from the Art Institute of Chicago Textiles collection. Measuring 85.7 × 86.6 cm (33 3/4 × 34 1/8 in.), its generous size suggests it served as a decorative cover rather than a pocket handkerchief, perhaps adorning a table or bed in a prosperous 19th-century household. intricate design features trees and tents, evoking pastoral landscapes or temporary encampments, rendered with skilled needlework that highlights the era's appreciation for nature and leisure motifs. Embroidered textiles like thi...
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...