The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of December 4, 2023

Textile with field of poppies on a golden ground

1600–1750

Iran, Safavid period

(1501–1722)

Silk and gilt-metal thread: twill weave with supplementary weft, stamped

Overall: 85.7 x 71.1 cm (33 3/4 x 28 in.); Mounted: 92.7 x 78.7 cm (36 1/2 x 31 in.)

Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund 1926.22

Location

not on view

Description

Trade in textiles flourished between India and Iran. Courtly consumers from the neighboring Mughal and Safavid dynasties admired the products of both regions. The subtle chevrons set off rows of poppies that sway in alternating directions, lending a gentle liveliness to the overall pattern. Peach and green silk threads interlace to create each poppy in a technique that uses discontinuous wefts and allows for a smooth surface finish to this lightweight textile.

Provenance
?-1926
(Indjoudjian Frères, Paris, France, sold to the Cleveland Museum of Art)
1926-
The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
Citations
Mackie, Louise W. Symbols of Power: Luxury Textiles from Islamic Lands, 7th-21st Century. Cleveland, OH: The Cleveland Museum of Art, 2015. Mentioned and Reproduced: p. 382-383, fig. 9.42
Exhibition history

Art: The International Language. The Cleveland Museum of Art (October 2-November 4, 1956).

Luxuriance: Silks from Islamic Lands, 1250-1900. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (May 14, 2013-June 23, 2014).

Art and Stories from Mughal India. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (July 31-October 23, 2016).

Source URL: https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1926.22