Two Joined Panels of Brocaded Yellow Furnishing Wool
c. 1720s
Medium
Wool, worsted, damask weave; brocaded
Dimensions
Overall: 90.2 × 88.9 cm (35 1/2 × 35 in.); Each panel: 90.2 × 45.7 cm (35 1/2 × 18 in.)
Classification
weaving
Department
Textiles
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
256793
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
Patterned woven wool fabrics were employed for both upholstery and clothing. The city of Norwich, in Norfolk, is commonly known as the primary center for weaving wool in the 18th century. Fine woolen textiles were the backbone of the English economy for hundreds of years, from the late middle ages until well into the 19th century. Britain’s North American colonies provided a ready market for luxury goods like these patterned wool fabrics. In fact, a dress in the collection of Colonial Williamsbu...
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...