The Cleveland Museum of Art
Collection Online as of April 20, 2024
Silk hanging with embroidered tree of life
1800s
Average: 228.6 x 172.7 cm (90 x 68 in.)
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Wade 1916.1358
Location: not on view
Description
This resplendent tree of life embroidery integrates Turkish traditions with new European styles that became increasingly fashionable during the mid-18th century. The fanciful tree projects lavish bouquets of Turkish flowers while the tree trunk is wrapped with an elaborate European-style bow, as are the meandering vines in the floral border.A professional draftsman drew the pattern with ink on the radiant yellow silk taffeta embroidered with at least 12 vibrant colors in chain stitch. It was most likely made in a professional workshop as a hanging for special occasions, a conspicuous symbol of beauty and wealth.
- Mackie, Louise W. Symbols of Power: Luxury Textiles from Islamic Lands, 7th-21st Century. Cleveland; New Haven: Cleveland Museum of Art; Yale University Press, 2015. Mentioned and reproduced: P. 336-337, fig. 8.54Highet, Juliet. "Silks from Islamic Lands." The Asian Art Newspaper: Monthly for Collectors, Dealers, Museums and Galleries 17, issue 5 (March 2014):16-18. 18
- Luxuriance: Silks from Islamic Lands, 1250-1900. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (May 14, 2013-June 23, 2014).
- {{cite web|title=Silk hanging with embroidered tree of life|url=false|author=|year=1800s|access-date=20 April 2024|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}
Source URL:
https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1916.1358