Panel
c. 1860
Medium
Silk, warp-float faced 7:1 satin weave with supplementary pile warps forming cut and uncut, voided velvet
Dimensions
72 × 57.6 cm (28 3/8 × 22 5/8 in.); Repeat: 27.2 × 14 cm (10 3/4 × 5 1/2 in.)
Classification
textile
Department
Textiles
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
105436
Art Historical Context
This exquisite silk panel, dating to around 1860, showcases the pinnacle of mid-19th-century textile through its intricate warp-float faced 71 satin weave. Supplementary pile warps create a luxurious voided velvet surface, blending cut and uncut piles to form raised motifs against a shimmering satin ground. The repeating pattern, measuring 27.2 × 14 cm, highlights the weaver's mastery in producing scalable designs ideal for garments, upholstery, or drapery—hallmarks of Victorian-era opulence. Crafted during the height of the Industrial Revolution, power looms revolutionized fabric production,...
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...