Artwork Page for Textile with Tiny Leaves

Details / Information for Textile with Tiny Leaves

Textile with Tiny Leaves

1275–1350

Central Asia, Il-khanid (Mongol) period

Medium
Silk and gold thread; tabby with supplementary weft
Measurements
Overall: 14.5 x 15.5 cm (5 11/16 x 6 1/8 in.); Mounted: 30.5 x 33.7 cm (12 x 13 1/4 in.)
Credit Line
Dudley P. Allen Fund 1985.33
Public Domain
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Location
Not on view
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Description

The shimmering gold of the tiny scattered leaves in this silk perfectly suited the taste of the Mongol court. Showing no Chinese or eastern Iranian influence, this type of pattern appears to have been indigenous to eastern Central Asia. The closest parallels to the tiny leaves densely strewn across the surface are found among the silk tapestries of the Uyghurs.
A square silk and gold thread textile with a warm golden hue features fine horizontal ridges providing a ribbed texture. Small, interlocking leaf-like shapes create a dense, repeating pattern across the entire surface. All four edges are slightly frayed, with short, loose threads extending outward from the main weave, revealing the delicate construction of the fabric.

Textile with Tiny Leaves

1275–1350

Central Asia, Il-khanid (Mongol) period

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