Textile with crowned double headed eagles
Unknown Artist
second half 16th century
Medium
Lampas, silk
Dimensions
20 × 22 in. (50.8 × 55.9 cm)
Classification
Textiles-Woven
Culture
Chinese, Macao, for Iberian market
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1912
Accession Number
12.55.4
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite silk lampas textile, woven in the second half of 16th century, showcases crowned double-headed eagles amid blooming flowers and leaves—motifs ev European heraldry. Measuring 20 22 inches, it exemplifies lampas weaving, a sophisticated technique where patterned wefts create brocaded designs against a satin ground, prized for its luster and durability in opulent furnishings like hangings or vestments. Crafted in Macao by Chinese artisans for the Iberian market, the piece highlights the vibrant cultural exchanges of the Age of Exploration. Macao, a Portuguese enclave, served as a ...