Design for an Embroidered or Woven Border of the "Fabrique de St. Ruf"
1800â1825
Classification
Drawing
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of Eleanor and Sarah Hewitt
Accession Number
1920-36-5
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 by the Fabrique de Saint Ruf workshop between 1800 and1825. Lyon was Europe's silk capital during this era, producing luxurious fabrics that adorned the gowns of Napoleonic elites and the furnishings of grand estates. As a preparatory drawing—its medium yet to be precisely identified—this piece served as a blueprint for intricate embroidered or woven borders, guiding skilled artisans in translating patterns onto fabric. In the early 19th cen...