元 紅地團花“納石失”織金錦|"Cloth of Gold" with Medallions

Unknown

14th century · Silk and metallic thread lampas · Asian Art

This exuberant textile illustrates one of the most luxurious materials used at the Mongol court: nasij, or “cloth of gold.” Except for very fine outlines of patterns in bright red silk, the entire surface of this special textile was woven with gold threads. An innovation from Central Asia, this technique attests to the mass movement of weavers from the eastern Iranian world to China during the Mongol period.

Artist

Unknown

Date

14th century

Medium

Silk and metallic thread lampas

Culture

China

Department

Asian Art

Credit line

Purchase, Joseph Pulitzer Bequest and Dodge Fund, 2001