Robe
Ottoman period, 19th century
Medium
Cotton, plain weave; quilted with areas of raised padding
Dimensions
135.9 × 154.3 cm (53 1/2 × 60 3/4 in.)
Classification
textile
Department
Textiles
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
200042
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
In the 19th century it was popular for Syrian women and girls from wealthy, urban families to wear coats like this after visiting the hammam (public bath), although sometimes they were elegant enough to wear outside in other settings. The layers of cloth joined together with cotton padding in between—a form of quilting—were added to provide warmth and to elevate the decoration. Syria’s location on the Silk Road in earlier centuries made it a major center for trade and production. As a result, it...
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...