Cleveland Museum of Art

Pair of Needlework Bed Hangings in the Bizarre Style

Date

1710–20

Medium

Silk, wool: needlework, tent and cross-stitch embroidery on canvas

Culture

France, 18th century

Department

Textiles

Institution

Cleveland Museum of Art

These panels would have hung originally around a bed post as part of a full set of hangings on a bedstead in the early 1700's. Elaborate textile hangings were a conspicuous display of wealth since many ladies received their friends within their bedchamber. A full set enveloped the entire bedstead and, when closed, helped retain warmth long after the fire had gone out. This particular pair of panels is remarkable in that they represent many hours of highly skilled needlework. Their design is known as a "bizarre" pattern, which mimicked woven silks of the same era that were asymmetrical, boldly stylized adaptations of Asian fabrics that were coming into the European market from the trading routes at the time. The design of this pair of needlework panels is known as a "bizarre" pattern.

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