Design for an Embroidered or Woven Horizontal Border of the "Fabrique de St. Ruf," Unfinished
1805–1815
Classification
Drawing
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of Eleanor and Sarah Hewitt
Accession Number
1914-21-69
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Step into the world of early 19th-century French design with this unfinished *Design for an Embro or Woven Horizontal Border* from the Fabrique de Ruf, a renowned silk workshop in Lyon, France, dating to 1805–1815. Lyon was Europe's silk capital during the Napoleonic era, where master weavers and designers created intricate patterns for luxurious fabrics destined for gowns, furnishings, and exports. This drawing, classified as a preparatory sketch, captures the meticulous planning behind woven or embroidered borders—repeating motifs that added elegance and rhythm to textiles. As an artifact f...