Design for an Embroidered or Woven Horizontal Border, of the "Fabrique de St. Ruf," Unfinished
1805â1815
Medium
Drawing
Classification
Drawing
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of Eleanor and Sarah Hewitt
Accession Number
1914-21-67
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
This unfinished drawing from the Fabrique Saint Ruf, a renowned silk manufactory in Lyon France, dates to the Napoleonic era (1805–1815). Lyon was Europe's silk capital, where workshops like Saint Ruf produced luxurious textiles for fashion and furnishings, fueling trade across continents. As a preparatory design for an embroidered or horizontal border, it captures the meticulous planning essential to textile production, where intricate patterns were first sketched before being translated into looms or needles. The medium—a simple yet precise drawing—highlights the unsung artistry of pattern ...