Towel
1800–1850
Medium
Cotton, plain weave; embroidered with silk, metal strip, and metal-strip-wrapped silk
Dimensions
198.6 × 67 cm (78 1/8 × 26 3/8 in.)
Classification
textile
Department
Textiles
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
79200
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
The lustrous silk threads in this embroidered towel evoke the light and color of a garden in summer. The Ottomans were known for their love of flowers. Roses, carnations , hyacinths, irises, and tulips bloomed in magnificant gardens along the Bosporus. Flowers adorned luxury objects and were a popular subject for embroidery. Embroiderers--both men and women--worked from designs drawn onto the ground (or base) fabrics, creating endless variety in the patterns by carefully choosing different threa...
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...