Panel of Bizarre Silk
French
Description
Subject Matter:
The wildly complex pattern of this textile exemplifies a popular type of brocaded silk produced from ca. 1695 to ca. 1720 throughout western Europe, and particularly in France. Dubbed "Bizarre Silks" by later historians, these silks were inspired in part by Asian textiles. The patterns were changed annually to suit the changing fashions of the very wealthy, who used Bizarre Silks as material for both women's and men's dress.
Physical Description:
This brilliant coral-colored silk features an elaborate brocaded pattern consisting of exuberant sprays of flowers in yellow, blue, white, and gold thread joined to bunches of fruit and other ornament woven with silver thread. The ground is enlivened by a damask pattern of more schematic vegetal and geometric ornament that echoes these dominant motifs.
Usage Rights:
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