Textile with Figures

Art Historical Context

This delicate silk textile fragment, woven in 14th-century Italy, offers a glimpse into the opulent world of medieval luxury goods. Measuring just 1¼ × 3¾ inches, it features woven figures that exemplify the intricate pictorial weaving techniques of the era. Produced during Italy's late Gothic period, when cities like Lucca and Venice emerged as silk production powerhouses, such textiles were prized for their fine luster and vibrant dyes, often imported from the East and adapted into local designs. Silk weaving required masterful skill on drawlooms, allowing weavers to create detailed human f...