The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of September 10, 2026

A vertical rectangular cotton textile features horizontal bands of indigo blue motifs against a white background. A wide central band displays seated beasts flanking stylized trees, while narrower bands above and below depict paired birds and tower structures. Fine geometric borders separate these decorative rows. Small brown spots mark the cloth, which has frayed, unfinished edges. The symmetrical composition emphasizes the rhythmic contrast between the dark blue indigo and the plain woven field.

Towel

c. 1500

Italy, Perugia

(?)
cotton
Overall: 108 x 52.1 cm (42 1/2 x 20 1/2 in.)
Gift of Miss Caroline E. Coit 1917.281
Location: Not on view
  • "Accessions." The Bulletin of the Cleveland Museum of Art 4, no. 6 (1917): 109-11. Mentioned: p. 109 www.jstor.org
    Martin Nagy, Rebecca. Textiles in Daily Life in the Middle Ages. Cleveland, Ohio: Cleveland Museum of Art in cooperation with Indiana University Press, 1985. p. 45-6, 59
  • Textiles in Daily Life in the Middle Ages. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (January 22-March 17, 1985).
  • {{cite web|title=Towel|url=false|author=|year=c. 1500|access-date=10 September 2026|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1917.281