Wall Hanging
1801/50
Medium
Silk and cotton; warp-dyed, warp-faced plain weave (ikat)
Dimensions
171.5 × 144.2 cm (67 1/2 × 56 3/4 in.)
Classification
textile
Department
Textiles
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
185614
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
This wall hanging is an ikat, a silk textile whose design is created by dyeing the warp threads before weaving. Today these fabrics from Central Asia are renowned and valued worldwide. The silks were produced mainly in the area that is now Uzbekistan. They were given as gifts and exchanged at weddings, and used as both garments and household decorations. The bold silks were often displayed in multiples as an expression of the owner’s status and wealth. In this example, the number of colors and t...
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...