Panel c. 19th century

This panel, now at the Minneapolis Institute of Art, was made anonymously. The artist likely used silk, velvet, and metallic threads to create its intricate design. The panel shimmers, reflecting light thanks to the metallic threads. The texture is rich, contrasting the smooth velvet circle with the densely embroidered floral pattern, a testament to the textile's materiality. The making of this panel would have been labor-intensive, involving hours of meticulous handwork. The techniques used, such as embroidery and possibly couching to secure the metal threads, reflect highly skilled traditions, similar to those used in tapestries. Considering its likely historical context, such a panel may have been commissioned by someone of high status, reflecting their wealth and power through the conspicuous display of skilled labor. This challenges conventional definitions of art, prompting us to consider how craft traditions like embroidery, interwoven with social and economic dynamics, create objects of cultural significance and aesthetic value.