Heirloom Textile
15th century
Medium
Cotton, plain woven, block printed and resist-dyed; two loom widths joined, all selvages present
Dimensions
267.3 × 188 cm (105 1/4 × 74 in.)
Classification
textile
Department
Textiles
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
220750
Art Historical Context
Step into the Textile Department at the Art Institute of Chicago to discover the *Heirloom Textile*, a stunning 15th cotton masterpiece measuring 267.3 × 188 cm. Woven in plain weave from two loom widths seamlessly joined—with all original selvages intact—this large-scale fabric speaks to exceptional preservation and skilled craftsmanship from a bygone era. Crafted using block printing and resist-dyeing techniques, the textile showcases sophisticated methods where wooden blocks carved with intricate patterns were stamped onto the cloth, and areas were masked with resist paste to create vibran...
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...