Fragment (Furnishing Fabric)
Qing dynasty (1644–1911), 1775/1850
Medium
Cut solid satin velvet, silk with orange warp and weft and orange-red and green pile. Design of both field and border is green peony scrolls on red ground. In the field, Buddhist emblem of sonorous stone repeated twice. Green silk lining
Dimensions
86.4 × 59.7 cm (34 × 23 1/2 in.)
Classification
textile
Department
Textiles
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
12343
Art Historical Context
This exquisite fragment of furnishing fabric hails from China's Qing dynasty (16441911), likely produced between 1775 and1850 during the prosperous Qianlong or Jiaqing emperor reigns. As a surviving piece from imperial or elite workshops, it exemplifies the era's mastery of silk weaving, used for lavish interiors like curtains, upholstery, or robes. Textiles like this were status symbols, blending artistry with opulence in a period when China's textile trade flourished globally. Crafted from cut solid satin velvet in silk, the fabric features an orange warp and weft with vibrant orange-red an...
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...