Design for Woven Silk and Embroidery, with Lion attacking a Deer (recto) and Woman swallowed by Fish (verso)
late 14th century
Medium
textile designs
Classification
textile designs
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Museum purchase through gift of various donors and from Friends of Textiles Fund
Accession Number
1993-119-1
About this artwork
Recto: Center of design occupied by stylized tree with cut-off branches. Lion attacking a hornless deer on the left. On the right, another deer is entangled in flowering tendrils. Verso: At top left a stylized fish in the form of an "O" has a woman in its jaws. On the bottom left, a medallion fragment is depicted with plant and rabbit motifs. Right side of sheet occupied by head of Christ surrounded by seraphim, five of whom are visible.
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...