Our elegant artichoke salad servers interpret a sumptuous swath of late 15th-century Venetian velvet. Such magnificent textiles were coveted luxuries during the Renaissance, and artichokes were wildly popular decorative motifs. They radiate across the length of ruby red velvet in The Met collection, exemplary of the Venetian fabrics that caught discerning Renaissance eyes throughout Europe and in Turkey. This particular example exhibits hints of Eastern influence in the crenate collar that secures the golden garlands.