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
1920-36-135
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Step into the elegant world of early 19th-century French with this *Design for an Embro or Woven Horizontal Border* from the Fabrique de Saint Ruf in Lyon, France, created between 1805 and 1815. Lyon, long renowned as Europe's silk capital, was home to prestigious manufactories like Saint Ruf, which specialized in luxurious woven fabrics for fashion and furnishings. This drawing served as a vital blueprint, guiding artisans in crafting intricate borders for embroidery or loom weaving during the Napoleonic era. As a preparatory sketch, it exemplifies the precision of textile design, where ever...