Artwork Page for Textile with Palmettes

Details / Information for Textile with Palmettes

Textile with Palmettes

1200s–1300s

Central Asia, Il-khanid (Mongol) period

Medium
Silk and gold thread; tabby with supplementary weft
Measurements
Overall: 85.5 x 35 cm (33 11/16 x 13 3/4 in.); Mounted: 106.7 x 50.8 cm (42 x 20 in.)
Credit Line
John L. Severance Fund 1993.253
Public Domain
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Location
Not on view
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Did You Know?

Some of the original coral-red background can be seen along the edges, where it hasn't faded to off-white.

Description

Designs of repeated ogives were popular in Central Asia and survive in a number of variations. Usually, the ogival frame encloses a floral motif, as in this example. Sometimes paired animals occur instead. Silks with this type of pattern were exported to Western Asia and to Europe, where they inspired textile designs woven locally. Mongol silks with exotic floral and animal patterns were acquired for use as clothing and furnishings by the clergy and nobility. They were also used by painters as models for hangings or garments.
A vertically long silk and gold textile fragment features an olive-green background patterned with a repeating grid of muted gold teardrops. Each teardrop frames a symmetrical floral motif. The left edge is heavily frayed with loose yellow threads, while narrow red borders line the top and bottom. Fine regular weaving creates a shimmering texture throughout the rectangular piece, with metallic threads glinting across its entire surface.

Textile with Palmettes

1200s–1300s

Central Asia, Il-khanid (Mongol) period

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