Design for an Embroidered or Woven Horizontal Border of the "Fabrique de St. Ruf"
1805â1815
Medium
Drawing
Classification
Drawing
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of Eleanor and Sarah Hewitt
Accession Number
1920-36-156
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
This delicate drawing, titled *Design for an Embro or Woven Horizontal Border the "Fabrique de St. Ruf"*, hails from the renowned textile hub of Lyon, France, created by the Fabrique de Saint Ruf workshop between 1805 and1815. As a preparatory sketch in ink or pencil—typical of the era's design process—it served as a blueprint for luxurious silk borders destined for embroidery or weaving on advanced looms. Lyon's silk industry, a cornerstone of French craftsmanship since the Renaissance, peaked during the Napoleonic period, producing opulent fabrics for gowns, furnishings, and exports that daz...