Design for an Embroidered or Woven Horizontal Border of the "Fabrique de St. Ruf"
1805â1815
Classification
Drawing
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of Eleanor and Sarah Hewitt
Accession Number
1920-36-134
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
This delicate drawing, titled *Design for an Embroidered or Woven Horizontal Border the "Fabrique de. Ruf"*, hails from the renowned silkactory Fabrique de Saint in Lyon, France, to 1805–1815. Lyon was Europe's silk weaving capital during this era, producing luxurious textiles for fashion, furnishings, and export amid the Napoleonic Empire's opulent tastes. As a preparatory sketch classified as a drawing, it as a blueprint for artisans to execute intricate embroidered or woven patterns, highlighting the collaborative craft of textile design where precision met creativity. The piece reflects t...