Head Scarf
19th century
Medium
Silk; tye-dyed
Dimensions
228.6 × 83.9 cm (90 × 33 in.)
Classification
textile
Department
Textiles
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
53188
Art Historical Context
Nestled in the Textiles department of the Art Institute of Chicago, *Head Scarf* is a captivating 19th-century silk creation by an unknown artist. Measuring 228.6 83.9 cm (90 × 33 in.), this elongated accessory showcases the elegance of traditional fabric arts, designed for wrapping around the head in a style that blended utility with adornment. The standout feature is its tie-dye technique, a-dyeing method where portions of the silk are tightly bound before immersion in dye, creating spontaneous, irregular patterns that no two pieces can replicate. Silk, prized for its luster and drape, elev...