Design for an Embroidered or Woven Border of the "Fabrique de St. Ruf"
1780â1790
Medium
Drawing
Classification
Drawing
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of Eleanor and Sarah Hewitt
Accession Number
1920-36-40
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
This delicate drawing, titled *Design for an Embro or Woven Border of "Fabrique de St Ruf"*, hails from the renowned textile manufactory Fabrique Saint Ruf in Lyon, France, dating to 1780–1790. Created as a sketch, it exemplifies the precision of late 18th-century pattern design, intended for luxurious embroidered or woven borders used in fashion, furnishings, and ecclesiastical textiles. Lyon's silk-weaving industry was then at its zenith, producing opulent fabrics that adorned European aristocracy and fueled global trade. The artwork captures the era's neoclassical elegance, with intricate ...