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Source Description
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.
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
163101
label
Floral striped silk on a golden ground
core
obj
dtoType
object
pageCount
1
Source metadata
id
163101
contentType
object
title
Floral striped silk on a golden ground
description
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.
date
1600–1650
citation
rights
CC0
rightsUri
CC0
language
en
wikidata
Q79988604
genreSpecific
Textile
imageCount
1
source
import
dimensionsRaw
Overall: 50.1 x 27.5 cm (19 3/4 x 10 13/16 in.)
cul
Iran, Safavid period (1501–1722)
accession
2003.96
Source extras
tec
silk, gilt- and silver-metal thread: samite
tombstone
Floral striped silk on a golden ground, 1600–1650. Iran, Safavid period (1501–1722). Silk, gilt- and silver-metal thread: samite; overall: 50.1 x 27.5 cm (19 3/4 x 10 13/16 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, John L. Severance Fund, 2003.96
collection
T - Islamic
citations
citation
"Major Acquisitions 2000-2005." <em>Cleveland Art: Cleveland Museum of Art Members Magazine</em> 45, no. 6 (July/August 2005): 6-17.
page_number
Mentioned and reproduced: p. 11-12
citation
Mackie, Louise W. <em>Symbols of Power: Luxury Textiles from Islamic Lands, 7th-21st Century</em>. Cleveland; New Haven: Cleveland Museum of Art; Yale University Press, 2015.
page_number
Mentioned and reproduced: P. 380-381, fig. 9.40
citation
Highet, Juliet. "Silks from Islamic Lands." The Asian Art Newspaper: Monthly for Collectors, Dealers, Museums and Galleries 17, issue 5 (March 2014):16-18.
page_number
16
creditline
John L. Severance Fund
updatedAt
2026-05-29 08:28:39.761000
sourceId
163101
dept
Textiles
coll
T - Islamic
med
silk, gilt- and silver-metal thread: samite
thumbnail_url
image_url
Single page context
seq
1
pageIndex
0
type
photo
mediaId
6499b001d6c8d9da