Four Lengths of Woven Silk
1760s
Medium
Silk, plain weave foundation with complementary patterning wefts and supplementary brocading wefts of silk and flat silver metal strips
Dimensions
205.8 × 96.5 cm (81 × 38 in.)
Classification
textile
Department
Textiles
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
26457
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
Silk fabrics patterned on a loom formed the basis of much of men’s and women’s formal dress in the 18th century. Colors and patterns changed regularly; this design of small bouquets linked by ribbons was most popular in the mid-1760s. The color pink in all its shades was a perennial favorite of European women throughout the 18th century.
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...