Clothes brush (one of a pair)
1874–75
Medium
Silver
Dimensions
Overall: 2 5/8 x 7 1/4 x 1 5/8 in. (6.7 x 18.4 x 4.1 cm)
Classification
Metalwork-Silver
Culture
British, London
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Mrs. Amos L. Beaty, 1961
Accession Number
61.78.8
Tags
Art Historical Context
This delicate silver clothes brush, crafted by the esteemed London silversmiths Barnard Brothers around 1874–75, exemplifies the refined metalwork of Victorian Britain. One of a matching pair, its compact dimensions—measuring just 2⅝ × 7¼ × 1⅝ inches—made it a practical yet luxurious grooming tool for the well-appointed gentleman's dressing room. Adorned with floral motifs, as suggested by its decorative tags, it reflects the era's passion for naturalistic ornamentation, where everyday objects were elevated to miniature sculptures. In the context of 19th-century European decorative arts, such...