Man's Waist Sash
18th century
Medium
Silk compound weave, with applied silk and metal fringe
Dimensions
452.2 × 68.8 cm (178 3/8 × 27 1/8 in.)
Classification
costume
Department
Textiles
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
66049
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
The long silk sashes worn as part of men’s dress in Persia (present-day Iran) and north India were adopted by Polish nobility during the late 1600s. Wrapped around the waist with the fringed ends hanging free, such expensive woven silks denoted the wearer’s high status. Sashes became part of noblemen’s formal dress as a symbol of Poland’s history as the territory connecting Europe and Asia. They were exported from Iran, made in Poland, and made in France for export to Poland.
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...