Towel
18th century
Medium
Linen and silk, plain weave with supplementary patterning wefts; embroidered with silk, silvered-metal-strip-wrapped silk, and gilt-metal strip in double running, running (pattern darning), whipped stem, satin, and stem stitches; main warp plied fringe with silk tassels
Dimensions
208.8 × 43.7 cm (82 1/8 × 17 1/4 in.)
Classification
textile
Department
Textiles
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
79119
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...