Fragment
Unknown Artist
17th century
Medium
Silk, metal thread
Dimensions
Overall: 10 1/2 x 7 1/8 in. (26.7 x 18.1 cm)
Classification
Textiles-Woven
Culture
Italian
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Nanette B. Kelekian, in honor of Olga Raggio, 2002
Accession Number
2002.494.226
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite 17th-century Italian fragment, woven from luxurious silk and shimmering metal threads, captures the opulence of Baroque-era decorative arts. Measuring just 10½ x 7⅛ inches, it features delicate motifs of birds amid blooming flowers, a popular theme in European textiles that evoked the harmony of nature and the splendor of the natural world. Though created by an unknown artist, intricate weave reflects the masterful craftsmanship of Italian looms, likely from renowned centers like Venice or Florence, where such pieces adorned ecclesiastical vestments, furnishings, or elite wardro...