Piece

Unknown

15th century · Cut voided velvet on satin foundation weave (warp: silk dyed in dark blue, reeled, no twist/S plied, 9 per cm; warp pile: silk dyed in dark blue, reeled, no twist/no ply; weft: silk dyed in dark blue, reeled, no twist/no ply, 25-29 per cm) · European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

Under a microscope, warps, wefts, and the pile of this velvet exhibit a smoothness and shine typical of cultivated silk. They were all well de-gummed, removing the sericin (gelatinous protein), which allowed dyes to penetrate the fibers, especially so in the case of the cleanest, most separated pile.

Artist

Unknown

Date

15th century

Medium

Cut voided velvet on satin foundation weave (warp: silk dyed in dark blue, reeled, no twist/S plied, 9 per cm; warp pile: silk dyed in dark blue, reeled, no twist/no ply; weft: silk dyed in dark blue, reeled, no twist/no ply, 25-29 per cm)

Culture

Italian

Department

European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

Credit line

Rogers Fund, 1908