France or Italy

The attribution France or Italy refers to a prominent center of European textile production active across the late sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, specifically the period between 1575 and 1701. This extensive production period suggests the output of a significant regional workshop or series of affiliated studios dedicated to high-end decorative arts and furnishings.

The works documented from this origin consist exclusively of textiles. Fifteen such pieces are represented in American collections, establishing the regional importance of these objects in the history of decorative fabric design. The examples held by institutions like the Art Institute of Chicago demonstrate mastery over weaving and ornamental design typical of the transition from Mannerism into the Baroque era.

Specific works documented in collections include large installation pieces such as a Hanging, as well as functional decorative elements like several examples of Fringe, and smaller sections categorized as a Fragment. The meticulous detail and complex fabrication necessary for these surviving textiles allow for museum-quality exhibitions and scholarly analysis of historical production techniques. Because of the age of these intricate designs, many patterns are now considered public domain, allowing institutions to produce high-quality prints for research and educational purposes.