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Object Timeline

-0001

1902

  • We acquired this object.

2015

2024

  • You found it!

Textile (Spain)

This is a Textile. It is dated 15th century and we acquired it in 1902. Its medium is silk, metallic (gilded parchment wound around linen core) and its technique is two interconnected structures: 4&1 satin and weft faced plain weave (lampas). It is a part of the Textiles department.

This silk lampas may have been produced in Almería, a center of silk production in Andalucía. Although it is unclear whether the spotted cats are leopards or cheetahs, the elongated spots below their eyes suggest the “tear lines” below a cheetah’s eyes.

This object was featured in our Object of the Week series in a post titled Cheetah Tears.

This object was donated by John Pierpont Morgan. It is credited Gift of John Pierpont Morgan.

  • Cap (Egypt)
  • untwisted silk, gilded parchment; z-spun linen lining.
  • Museum purchase through gift of Anonymous Donor.
  • 1949-64-7
  •
  • Fragment (Spain)
  • silk, metallic yarns (gilded parchment wound around linen core).
  • Gift of John Pierpont Morgan.
  • 1902-1-311
  •
  • Fragment (Spain)
  • silk, metal wrapped around linen core.
  • Gift of John Pierpont Morgan.
  • 1902-1-253-a,b

Our curators have highlighted 6 objects that are related to this one. Here are three of them, selected at random:

  • Fragment (Spain)
  • silk, gilded vellum on silk core.
  • Gift of John Pierpont Morgan.
  • 1902-1-978
  •

Its dimensions are

Warp x Weft: 42.5 x 33 cm (16 3/4 x 13 in.)

Cite this object as

Textile (Spain); silk, metallic (gilded parchment wound around linen core); Warp x Weft: 42.5 x 33 cm (16 3/4 x 13 in.); Gift of John Pierpont Morgan; 1902-1-251

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If you would like to cite this object in a Wikipedia article please use the following template:

<ref name=CH>{{cite web |url=https://collection.cooperhewitt.org/objects/18130527/ |title=Textile (Spain) |author=Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum |accessdate=25 April 2024 |publisher=Smithsonian Institution}}</ref>