Panel of velvet

second half 15th century

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 500

During the early fifteenth century, European velvet design was largely characterized by the use of voided patterns formed where the pile was absent. In the second half of the century, technical innovations led to the production of increasingly complex velvets in which the richness of design and texture were achieved through the use of different heights of cut pile and of supplementary metal threads. In this example, the broad meandering vine and the stylized foliage are woven in metal-wrapped thread with some details in raised loops to give even greater tactile effect.

Artwork Details

Object Information

Overview

Provenance

Exhibition History

Title: Panel of velvet
Date: second half 15th century
Culture: Italian
Medium: Silk and metal-wrapped thread, pile-on-pile cut, voided and brocaded velvet with metal-wrapped thread loops
Dimensions: Overall: H. 58 x W. 21 1/2in. (147.3 x 54.6cm); Framed: H. 63 x W. 26 x D. 3 in. (160 x 66 x 7.6 cm)
Classification: Textiles-Velvets
Credit Line: Fletcher Fund, 1946
Object Number: 46.156.134
Curatorial Department: European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

More Artwork

In the same gallery

In the same medium

From the same time and place

Virginal, Wood, parchment, ivory, paint, Italian — Virginal
Italian
1540

Two panels from the 'Verdures du Vatican' series, Jean Démosthène Dugourc French, Woven silk and metal thread with applied silk and chenille embroidery, French, Lyon — Two panels from the 'Verdures du Vatican' series
Designer Designed by Jean Démosthène Dugourc
Manufactory Woven by Maison Pernon et Cie.– Camille Pernon (French, 1753 – 1808)
ca. 1799

Processional cross, Partly gilt silver, niello, and copper with traces of gilding, over wood, Italian, Florence — Processional cross
Italian, Florence
ca. 1460–80

Hypnerotomachia Poliphili, Francesco Colonna Italian, Printed book with woodcut illustrations — Hypnerotomachia Poliphili
Multiple artists/makers
December 1499

Safavid Courtiers Leading Georgian Captives, Silk, metal wrapped thread; lampas — Safavid Courtiers Leading Georgian Captives
mid-16th century

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please contact us using the form below. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.

Send feedback

Content Notice

The Metropolitan Museum of Art presents over 5,000 years of art from around the world, and our online collection reflects ongoing work conducted over the course of our more than 150-year history. You may encounter objects or images that may be inappropriate for some viewers or information that may be outdated.