Hanging
1876/1900
Medium
Pieced, painted and embroidered quilt; silk and cotton velvet weaves; silk embroidery threads; metal, silk and cotton cord
Dimensions
208 × 92.1 cm (81 7/8 × 36 1/4 in.)
Classification
textile
Department
Textiles
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
64469
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
The images on this hanging signal that it may be a souvenir of Mexico. The octagonal piece of fabric in the center features the national coat of arms: an eagle eating a serpent grasped in its talons while standing on a prickly pear cactus. Irregularly shaped pieces of fabric surround this central image and contain painted scenes that depict bullfighting, pre-Columbian sculpture, flowers, butterflies, views of the landscape, and scenes of everyday life. The collection and combination of these sce...
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...