Design for an Embroidered or Woven Border of the "Fabrique de St. Ruf"
1800â1825
Medium
Drawing
Classification
Drawing
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of Eleanor and Sarah Hewitt
Accession Number
1920-36-47
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 hub of Lyon, France, created between 1800 and 1825 by the Fabrique de Saint workshop. Lyon was Europe's silk-weaving capital during this era, producing luxurious fabrics for fashion, furnishings, and export. As a preparatory drawing, it served as a blueprint for intricate borders in embroidery or weaving, showcasing the meticulous planning behind the city's opulent textiles amid the Napoleonic Empire and Restoration periods. The medium of drawing—likely ink, pencil, or ...