Panel c. 19th century

This Panel of unknown origin presents us with rows of complex geometrical and floral motifs, dyed in dark purple and reddish tones. The stylized plant-like forms, arranged with diamond shapes, have echoes in other textile traditions around the world. From ancient Mesopotamia to Renaissance Italy, images of abstracted flora carry cultural and religious symbolism. The diamond, for example, often appears as a protective symbol, a visual talisman thought to ward off evil and promise abundance. One finds variations of these symbols in different epochs, each reflecting the hopes, fears, and beliefs of its time. The very act of weaving, of interlacing threads to create a cohesive whole, is an act that reflects our deepest desires for order and harmony. The pattern may have shifted but it is a visceral memory that resurfaces time and time again.