Sutra Cover
Ming dynasty (1368–1644), c. 1590's
Medium
Silk and gold-leaf-over-lacquered-paper strip, warp-float faced 4:1 satin weave with supplementary patterning wefts bound in weft-float faced 1:4 satin interlacings
Dimensions
35 × 12.1 cm (13 3/4 × 4 3/4 in.); Repeat: 21 × 10.5 cm (8 1/4 × 4 1/4 in.)
Classification
textile
Department
Textiles
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
157619
Art Historical Context
This exquisite *Sutra Cover* from the Ming dynasty (1368–1644), dating to around the 1590s, served as a protective wrapper for Buddhist sutras—sacred scriptures rolled onto wooden spindles for portable use in temples or by monks. Crafted during a flourishing era of Chinese textile arts under imperial patronage, its compact dimensions (35 × 12.1 cm) and repeating pattern (21 × 10.5 cm) reflect the precision of late Ming workshops, where luxury fabrics blended artistry with spirituality. The cover's medium is a marvel of technical sophistication: silk in a warp-float faced 4:1 satin weave, enha...
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...