Collar
Unknown Artist
early 19th century
Medium
linen
Classification
Collar
Culture
Croatian
Department
Costume Institute
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Mrs. Robert W. de Forest, 1935
Accession Number
35.108.17
Art Historical Context
This delicate linen collar, crafted by an unknown Croatian artist in the early 19th, offers a glimpse into the refined world of European fashion during a time of Napoleonic influence and emerging national identities. Croatia, then part of the Austrian Empire, was renowned for its skilled textile traditions where linen—prized for its durability, breathability, and crisp texture—was a staple for everyday and formal wear. Detachable collars like this one were essential accessories, allowing wearers to refresh their outfits without laundering entire garments, a practical innovation in an era befor...