Tobari (Formerly Katabira)
late Edo period (1789–1868), 1801/25
Medium
Hemp, plain weave; resist dyed, stenciled and hand painted (kata kanoko and kanoko shibori); embroidered with silk, gold-and silver-leaf-over-lacquered-paper-strip-wrapped cotton and silk in satin, single satin and surface satin and stem stitches; laidwork and couching
Dimensions
166.8 × 169.1 cm (65 5/8 × 66 1/2 in.)
Classification
textile
Department
Textiles
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
153724
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...