Wall Hanging
Unknown Artist
1850–1899
Medium
Silk, cotton; plain weave, embroidery, tambour chain stitch
Dimensions
248.5 × 161.3 cm
Classification
Embroidery
Department
Textiles
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
Bequest of James Parmelee
Accession Number
1940.602
About this artwork
Embroideries known as suzani, after the Persian and Tajik word for needle (suzan), feature bold floral and foliate motifs enriched with several shades of red and crimson silk thread. This example suggests a lush garden enriched with single flowering plants alternating with a bird’s-eye view of blossoms in a foliate diamond trellis. Either a skilled family member or a professional drew the pattern in black ink (still visible) on five loosely joined cotton cloths; female family members disassemble...