Cleveland Museum of Art

Silk hanging with embroidered tree of life

Date

1800s

Medium

Silk: plain weave; embroidery, chain stitch

Culture

Turkey, Ottoman period

Department

Textiles

Institution

Cleveland Museum of Art

This resplendent tree of life embroidery integrates Turkish traditions with new European styles that became increasingly fashionable during the mid-18th century. The fanciful tree projects lavish bouquets of Turkish flowers while the tree trunk is wrapped with an elaborate European-style bow, as are the meandering vines in the floral border. A professional draftsman drew the pattern with ink on the radiant yellow silk taffeta embroidered with at least 12 vibrant colors in chain stitch. It was most likely made in a professional workshop as a hanging for special occasions, a conspicuous symbol of beauty and wealth.

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