Design for an Embroidered Vertical Border
1800â15
Medium
embroidery & stitching
Classification
embroidery & stitching
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Purchased for the Museum by the Advisory Council
Accession Number
1925-1-156
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
This delicate *Design for an Embro Vertical Border*, created between 1800 and 1815, offers a glimpse into early th-century American textile arts. Housed in the Smithsonian American Art Museum collection, this work—purchased by the Advisory Council—showcases the meticulous craft of embroidery and stitching, techniques central to domestic needlework during the Federal period. Vertical borders like this were likely intended as patterns for adorning garments, such as dresses or shawls, or for enhancing household linens, reflecting the era's emphasis on elegant, handcrafted embellishments. Embroid...
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...