Costume and Textiles Loom Length Made in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, AsiaEarly 20th century Artist/maker unknown, Samarkand Silk plain weave, ikat dyed Currently not on view 1939-1-10 Gift of Mrs. George W. Childs Drexel, 1939 |
LabelThis example of an ikat (resist-dyed) silk features the stylized form of an oversized pomegranate sliced in half and a branch laden with the whole fruit. Such fabrics were used as wall hangings and made into clothing. The production of ikat textiles developed within the urban centers of Central Asia as they required a variety of specialized craftsmen to complete the various stages. Although women cultivated silkworms and made the silk threads, it was the men who designed, dyed, and wove the fabrics. |
