Design for an Embroidered or Woven Horizontal Border of the "Fabrique de St. Ruf"

About this artwork

Research in Progress

Art Historical Context

This delicate drawing, titled *Design for an Embroidered oroven Horizontal Border of theFabrique de St."*, hails from Lyon, France—the epicenter of Europe's silk industry during the early 19th century. between 1805 and 1815 by the Fabrique de Saint Ruf, a textile manufactory, it as a pattern for luxurious embroidered or woven borders. These designs were essential blueprints for weavers and embroiderers, transforming sketches into opulent fabrics destined for garments, furnishings, and exports that dazzled international markets. Lyon's silk trade flourished under Napoleon's Empire, blending neoclassical motifs with innovative techniques to meet demand for elegant textiles. As a preparatory drawing, this work highlights the meticulous craftsmanship of the era's design process, where precision in line and pattern ensured reproducibility on looms. Its presence in the Smithsonian American Art Museum's collection, gifted by collectors Eleanor and Sarah Hewitt, underscores the global influence of French decorative arts on American design sensibilities. Though research continues, this artifact offers a window into the industrious world of Lyon's *fabriques*, where artistry met commerce to shape fashion history.