Fragment of an Altar Cloth
Public domain (CC0). Shown at web resolution; the full download is at the foot of this page.

Fragment of an Altar Cloth

TitleFragment of an Altar Cloth
ArtistBhutan
DateLate Ming dynasty (1368–1644) or early Qing dynasty (1644–1911), 18th century 18th century
Medium289 small squares of silk, 7:1 satin damask weave, 7:1 satin weave, 4:1 satin damask weave, 4:1 satin weave, 4:1 satin weave self-patterned by areas of plain weave, and 3:1 twill weave self-patterned by areas of plain weave and plain weave; pieced; edged with silk and gold-leaf-over-lacquered-paper strips, 4:1 satin weave with supplementary patterning wefts and silk and gold-leaf-over-lacquered-paper strips, 7:3 float weave self-patterned by ground weft floats
Classificationtextile
OriginBhutan
Holding institutionArt Institute of Chicago
Credit linePurchased with funds provided by the Year 2000 Silkworm Travel Group
RightsPublic domain (CC0). Free to use for any purpose.

About this artwork

“Fragment of an Altar Cloth” is a work by Bhutan, dated Late Ming dynasty (1368–1644) or early Qing dynasty (1644–1911), 18th century. It is executed in 289 small squares of silk, 7:1 satin damask weave, 7:1 satin weave, 4:1 satin damask weave, 4:1 satin weave, 4:1 satin weave self-patterned by areas of plain weave, and 3:1 twill weave self-patterned by areas of plain weave and plain weave; pieced; edged with silk and gold-leaf-over-lacquered-paper strips, 4:1 satin weave with supplementary patterning wefts and silk and gold-leaf-over-lacquered-paper strips, 7:3 float weave self-patterned by ground weft floats and classified as textile. This work is in the public domain (CC0), so the image may be downloaded and reused for any purpose without permission (see the licence note below).

Explore the context

The artist

This work is attributed to Bhutan. Browse every catalogued public-domain plate by this maker.

More by Bhutan →

The medium

Catalogued as textile. See other public-domain works in the same medium, all free to download and reuse.

Public-domain textiles →

The period

Dated to Late Ming dynasty (1368–1644) or early Qing dynasty (1644–1911), 18th century. Explore the wider set of works from the 18th century held in the archive.

18th Century art →

The collection

Made available through the Art Institute of Chicago open-access programme, which explicitly places this work in the public domain.

More from Art Institute of Chicago →

Keep exploring

Zoom out

Download this image

Rights: Public Domain — CC0 via the Art Institute of Chicago Open Access programme.

This work is in the public domain. You may download the image and use it for any purpose, personal or commercial, without permission or payment. No attribution is legally required, though a credit to Art Institute of Chicago is appreciated.

Download image ↧

Prefer a themed set as a single ZIP with a manifest? See the image packs. The works remain public domain / CC0 whichever way you take them.

US vs EU note: in the United States a faithful photographic reproduction of a public-domain 2-D artwork carries no new copyright (Bridgeman v. Corel), which is the basis of these open-access programmes. EU Directive 2019/790 Art. 14 similarly provides that reproductions of public-domain visual works are not protected. If reusing commercially in another jurisdiction, satisfy yourself of the local position. See the full licence note.