Waistcoat Front Panel
1720-40
Medium
Cotton, plain weave foundation; embroidered with linen thread in buttonhole, herringbone, satin, overcast and feather stitches; French knots; geometric fillings, coral stitch openwork ground; buttons covered with tailor's buttonhole stitch
Dimensions
88.3 × 41.7 cm (34 3/4 × 16 3/8 in.)
Classification
textile
Department
Textiles
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
27779
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
White-on-white embroidery relies on variation in texture and translucence to reveal its pattern. Accordingly, the designer and embroiderer must choose their materials and stitches very carefully to achieve a legible and attractive design. Such so-called whitework may have originated in East Asia and been introduced to Europe through trade with the Indian subcontinent.
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...