Handkerchief
Probably 1860s
Medium
Linen, plain weave; cut work in needle lace filling; embroidered with cotton in back, buttonhole, eyelet, padded overcast, and padded satin stitches; edged with cotton, bobbin straight lace of a type known as "Valenciennes"
Dimensions
53.6 × 53.6 cm (21 1/8 × 21 1/8 in.) Border width: 5.3 cm (2 1/8 in.) Border repeat; 4.5 cm (1 3/4 in.)
Classification
textile
Department
Textiles
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
71812
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...