Painted Silk

Textiles

Qing dynasty (1644–1911), 1750–75

Made in China for the European or American market

Chinese silk producers catered to a vast network of international consumers. Here, Chinese artisans created a hybrid design that incorporated elements from European woven silks—similar to the one by Anna Maria Garthwaite on display nearby. Chinese painted silks were particularly popular among affluent consumers in North America: Martha Washington, the first First Lady of the United States, owned a gown of Chinese painted silk.

Status: Currently Off View
Department: Textiles

Title: Painted Silk
Place: China (Object made in)
Date: Made 1750–1775
Medium: Silk, plain weave; painted
Dimensions: 243.5 × 74.3 cm (95 7/8 × 29 1/4 in.); Warp repeat: H.: 69.5 cm (27 3/8 in.)
Credit Line: Purchased with funds provided by the Auxiliary Board
Reference Number: 1990.221
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/76762/manifest.json

John E. Vollmer, “Clothed to Rule the Universe: Ming and Qing Dynasty Textiles at The Art Institute of Chicago,” published in conjunction with the exhibition, Art Institute of Chicago Museum Studies 26, no. 2 (2000): 54, cat. no. 3 (ill.).

Art Institute of Chicago, Elizabeth F. Cheney and Agnes Allerton Textile Galleries, Clothed to Rule the Universe: Ming and Qing Dynasty Textiles at The Art Institute of Chicago, Sept. 13, 2000–Jan. 2, 2001, cat. 3.
Art Institute of Chicago, Elizabeth F. Cheney and Agnes Allerton Textile Galleries, Fabricating Fashion, Aug. 20, 2022–Jan. 2, 2023, no. cat.

Spink and Son, Ltd., London, by 1990 [invoice, inventory no. IS6.1183, June 19, 1990; incoming permanent receipt Feb. 7, 1990; copies in curatorial object file, Textiles Department]; sold to the Art Institute of Chicago, 1990.

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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.