URL photos on Flickr

This is an imaginary portrait of the mother of the Zen master Hottō Enmyō Kokushi (1203–1298), whose sculptural portrait (1970.67) can be seen in gallery 235B. That image was carved soon after the master's death. His mother's image, however, was completed several hundred years later, so the likeness is doubtful.

Japan, Edo period (1615–1868)

wood with polychromy and inlaid crystal and stone eyes

Overall: 60.3 cm (23 3/4 in.)

Edward L. Whittemore Fund

clevelandart.org/art/1970.68

Bifolium Excised from a Carolingian Gradual (recto) c. 830–60 by museado

This rare leaf comes from a cantatorium or gradual, a book containing the chants to be sung during the Mass. Other leaves from the same book survive in Berlin and Trier. A bifolium, or double-leaf, does not contain decorated letters but rather "emphasized" letters. These were enlarged and pushed out into the margins to call attention to the eye. Such emphasized letters originated in late classical times and were the precursor to the decorated initial developed by medieval scribes. The purple-stained vellum (now faded to a deep pink) with its text written in gold and silver inks (now turned black) suggested great luxury with its sumptuous appearance. In Mediterranean regions, the purple dye was obtained from murex, a shellfish dye. In northern Europe, plant dyes were used as an alternative. Combined with the use of gold and silver ink a spectacular appearance was achieved that is traceable back to classical antiquity.

Germany or Northeastern France, 9th century

gold and silver ink on purple parchment

Sheet: 29 x 10 cm (11 7/16 x 3 15/16 in.); Framed: 39.4 x 52.1 x 3.2 cm (15 1/2 x 20 1/2 x 1 1/4 in.)

Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund

clevelandart.org/art/1933.446.a

Embroidery 1600s-1700s by museado

This textile fragment, possibly made from linen, is densely embroidered with silk threads in various shades of pink, red, yellow, and blue. The design is organized as a series of nested squared and some of the bands are patterned with repeating designs that somewhat resemble letters of the Arabic alphabet. The artist didn't use silk thread to make these, but instead stitched around the desired shapes. The letter-like patterns are thus actually parts of the plain base fabric showing through.

Morocco, Moghrebin, 17th-18th century

embroidery, silk

Average: 97.8 x 42.6 cm (38 1/2 x 16 3/4 in.)

Gift of Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Wade

clevelandart.org/art/1916.1236

network-security by James Hopper