Uchishiki (Altar Cloth)
late Edo period (1789–1868), 1750/1800
Medium
Silk, gold-leaf-over-lacquered-paper strip, warp-float faced 2:1 ‘Z’ twill weave with weft-float faced 1:2 ‘Z’ twill interlacings of secondary binding warps and supplementary patterning wefts; appliquéd with silk, plain weave; glazed; backed with paper; embroidered with silk-wrapped cotton cord in laidwork and couching
Dimensions
79 × 157.5 cm (31 1/8 × 63 1/8 in.); Repeat: 9.2 × 6.5 cm (3 5/8 × 2 1/2 in.)
Classification
needlework (visual works)
Department
Textiles
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
183202
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...