Design for an Embroidered or Woven Border
1780–1800
Medium
Drawing
Classification
Drawing
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of Eleanor and Sarah Hewitt
Accession Number
1920-36-32
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
This delicate drawing, titled *Design for an Embroidered or Woven Border*, to the late 18 or early 19th (1780–1800) and hails from the Smithsonian American Art Museum's. Created by an unknown, it served as a preparatory sketch for production—likely intended for or weaving on garments, furnishings, or accessories. As a simple yet precise drawing, it exemplifies the meticulous planning behind decorative arts during America's early republic era, when handmade textiles were both practical necessities and symbols of refinement. In the post-Revolutionary period, such designs reflected a blend of Eu...
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...