Spread with floral medallion pattern
Unknown Artist
1700s
Medium
Cotton: plain weave, quilted; silk and gilt-metal thread: embroidery, couched laid work
Dimensions
251.5 × 330.2 cm
Classification
Embroidery
Department
Textiles
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Wade
Accession Number
1916.1359
About this artwork
This textile could have been used as a covering for seating on the floor or as a bedspread in either an Indian or European setting. In any case, it was not meant to be walked on. Its material and imagery testify to flourishing international relationships. The arabesque designs, consisting of swirling vines with large and small flowers, recall a radiant paradise and have roots in Persian, Chinese, and Mediterranean sources. The use of gold-wrapped thread had been widespread in Spain and Portugal ...