Design for an Embroidered or Woven Border of the "Fabrique de St. Ruf"
1800–1825
Medium
Drawing
Classification
Drawing
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of Eleanor and Sarah Hewitt
Accession Number
1920-36-10
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
This delicate drawing from the early nineteenth century captures a design for an embroidered or woven border created by the Fabrique de Saint Ruf, a renowned textile workshop in Lyon, France. Dating from 1800 to 1825, the work reflects Lyon’s long-standing reputation as’s leading center for silk production during the Napoleonic era, when intricate patterns adorned everything from court garments to elegant furnishings. As a preparatory drawing rather than a finished textile, it offers a rare glimpse into the creative process behind luxury fabrics. Designers at workshops like Saint Ruf would sk...