Length of Woven Silk
1735/38
Medium
Silk and gilt-metal-strip-wrapped silk, plain weave with supplementary patterning wefts and some supplementary brocading wefts bound in weft-float faced 3:1 twill interlacings
Dimensions
154.1 × 52.6 cm (60 5/8 × 20 3/4 in.); Repeat: 53.5 × 25.4 cm (21 × 10 in.)
Classification
weaving
Department
Textiles
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
32342
Art Historical Context
This exquisite *Length of Woven Silk created around 1735–38, exemplifies the pinnacle of 18th-century textile artistry Measuring over 1.5 meters long, this fragment features a repeating pattern (53.5 × 25.4 cm) in luxurious silk interwoven with gilt-metal-strip-w silk, evoking opulence fit for elite garments or furnishings. Housed in the Art Institute of Chicago's Department, it reflects the era's fascination with intricate, shimmering fabrics as symbols of wealth and refinement. The weaving technique is a marvel: a plain weave foundation enhanced by supplementary patterning wefts and brocadi...
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...