Sutra Cover
Ming dynasty (1368–1644), c. 1590's
Medium
Silk and gold-leaf-over-lacquered-paper strips, warp-float faced 4:1 satin weave with supplementary patterning wefts bound in weft-float faced 1:4 satin interlacings; label: silk, plain weave; painted in ink; glued over paper
Dimensions
34.6 × 12 cm (13 5/8 × 4 3/4 in.); Warp repeat: H.: 18.1 cm (7 in.)
Classification
textile
Department
Textiles
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
157645
Art Historical Context
This exquisite *Sutra Cover* from Ming dynasty (13681644), dating to around the 1590s, exemplifies the era's masterful textile artistry. Measuring just 34.6 × 12 cm, it served as a protective wrapper for Buddhist sutras—sacred scriptures central to spiritual life. During the Ming period, Buddhism flourished alongside imperial patronage of the arts, and such covers were crafted with reverence, blending utility with opulent decoration to honor holy texts. The cover's medium reveals extraordinary technical sophistication: silk in a warp-float faced 4:1 satin weave, enriched with supplementary pa...
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...