Design for an Embroidered or Woven Horizontal Border of the "Fabrique de St. Ruf"
1805–1815
Medium
Drawing
Classification
Drawing
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of Eleanor and Sarah Hewitt
Accession Number
1920-36-161
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
This delicate drawing, titled *Design for an Embro or Woven Horizontal Border the "Fabrique de. Ruf"*, hails from the renowned textile workshops of Lyon, France—Europe's silk-weaving capital during the early 19th century. between 1805 and 1815 by the Fabrique de Saint Ruf, a prominent manufactory, it served as a preparatory blueprint for luxurious embroidered or woven borders. These designs were essential for producing opulent fabrics destined for clothing, furnishings, and export markets, reflecting Lyon's pivotal role in the Napoleonic-era luxury goods trade. As a simple yet precise drawing...