Length of Woven Silk
Mid-1760s
Medium
Silk, plain weave foundation with supplementary patterning warps and supplementary patterning and brocading wefts of silk, gilt- and silvered-metal strips, wrapped and flat
Dimensions
106.4 × 53.8 cm (41 7/8 × 21 1/8 in.); Repeat: 49.2 × 26.2 cm (19 3/8 × 10 1/4 in.)
Classification
weaving
Department
Textiles
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
31143
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
Some of the most technically complex woven textiles include not only silk and metal-wrapped thread but also employ two colors of metal—gold and silver—to add variety to the textures that reflect the light in subtly different ways. During the 1760s, meandering floral ribbon patterns dominated the market.
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...