Cleveland Museum of Art

Floral striped silk on a golden ground

Date

1600–1650

Medium

silk, gilt- and silver-metal thread: samite

Culture

Iran, Safavid period (1501–1722)

Department

Textiles

Institution

Cleveland Museum of Art

Twelve jewel-like colors of silk thread illustrate the vivacity of colors extolled in Iranian flowers on gilt- and silver-metal thread grounds. In a simplified seminaturalistic style, swaying branches support an exuberant array of blossoms in the Safavid tradition while the botanical accuracy of European prints inspired flora in varied angles and stages of maturity. Although celebrated in Iranian poetry for centuries, flowers were not featured in paintings and textiles until the 1640s, inspired by European herbals. This sturdy silk retains its radiant colors in contrast with many silks that have faded from excessive light exposure, especially the reds and pinks that were dyed with light-sensitive safflower dyestuff.

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