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Fragment

Red silk with plant inspired design in green, white, and yellow.
CC0 Public Domain Designation

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  • Red silk with plant inspired design in green, white, and yellow.

Date:

Nasrid dynasty (1230–1492), late 15th century

Artist:

Spain; probably Granada

About this artwork

Highly sought after in Islamic Spain, silk textiles such as this one are remarkable for their wide variety of designs and vivid color combinations. The design of this fragment is vibrant and sophisticated, setting an intricate geometric pattern against a lustrous satin-weave ground. The pattern joins white trilobed arches with a repeat design of green hop blossoms, stylized vegetal motifs, and yellow scrolling ornaments that recall the lush interior settings of the Alhambra, an extensive royal complex overlooking the city of Granada. These elements are closely connected to architectural decoration—especially stuccowork and wall tiles—and they were shared by potters, stucco carvers, and weavers. In impressive condition, this textile presents a clear sense of the luxury and splendor of Nasrid palace interiors. Indeed, weaving establishments were often attached to palaces and formed an important part of royal households.

Status

Currently Off View

Department

Textiles

Title

Fragment

Place

Spain (Object made in)

Date  Dates are not always precisely known, but the Art Institute strives to present this information as consistently and legibly as possible. Dates may be represented as a range that spans decades, centuries, dynasties, or periods and may include qualifiers such as c. (circa) or BCE.

Made 1475–1500

Medium

Silk; lampas technique

Dimensions

60.8 × 30.5 cm (23 7/8 × 12 in.)

Credit Line

Purchased with funds provided by the Textile Society; Mrs. Julian Armstrong Jr.; Barbara E. and Richard J. Franke Fund, and the Nicole Williams Contemporary Textile Fund

Reference Number

2007.17

IIIF Manifest  The International Image Interoperability Framework (IIIF) represents a set of open standards that enables rich access to digital media from libraries, archives, museums, and other cultural institutions around the world.

Learn more.

https://api.artic.edu/api/v1/artworks/189600/manifest.json

Extended information about this artwork

Object information is a work in progress and may be updated as new research findings emerge. To help improve this record, please email . Information about image downloads and licensing is available here.

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