The Silk Road

The Silk Road consisted of a series of overland caravan routes connecting China with the Mediterranean, passing through Central Asia and in use from about 500 BCE to 1500 CE. Silk and other eastern goods traveled westward, and European and Middle Eastern items were traded to the orient. Conquest and social changes enabled cross-cultural influences and the spread of ideas and technology. Textiles created in areas adjacent to the Silk Road reflect regional stylistic differences but may also share common symbols. Trade textiles played a major role in comfortably furnishing architectural interiors all along the Silk Road.

The Henry’s holdings of material from along the Silk Road include objects from two major sub-collections, each gathered with a different eye for collecting. The James D. and Stephanie Burns Collection of rugs and textiles from Central Asia has been shaped over the years by James Burns’s scholarly interest and expertise. The collection represents major rug weaving areas and key traditional designs from Central Asia. The Henry’s Jack Lenor Larsen Collection also contains examples of Silk Road textiles. Larsen, an internationally known designer of fabrics for interiors, collected Central Asian cloth as an inspiration for his contemporary commercial designs. Larsen Design worked with weavers from over thirty countries to produce highly valued hand woven, hand dyed textiles often inspired by local costume and textile traditions.

To see all of the costumes and textiles from the Henry Art Gallery’s collection, go to the Collection Search on the Henry's Website.

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