Woman's Robe
1840/60
Medium
Silk and cotton, plain weave; warp-resist-dyed (ikat); edged with silk twined embroidery
Dimensions
134 × 167.5 cm (52 13/16 × 54 in.)
Classification
textile
Department
Textiles
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
185619
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
This woman’s robe exemplifies the long tradition of ikat production in Central Asia, specifically, in Bukhara, Uzbekistan, once an active center along the ancient Silk Road. Among the many uses of ikats was their role as a component of a woman’s dowry. A woman would have worn this robe at weddings and other special occasions, and at her funeral it would have been draped over her bier. The choice of fabric was determined by a woman’s age and status. In general, young women wore bright colors and ...
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...