Design for an Emrboidery Repeat
1780â1800
Classification
Drawing
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of Eleanor and Sarah Hewitt
Accession Number
1914-21-60
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
### Design for an Embroidery Repeat This delicate drawing, created between 1780 and 1800, served as a blueprint for an embroidery repeat—a repeating pattern essential for producing textiles like curtains, upholstery, or clothing. Housed in the Smithsonian American Art Museum's collection (gift of Eleanor and Sarah Hewitt), it exemplifies the preparatory sketches that bridged artistic creativity and practical craftsmanship in early American decorative arts. Though the artist remains unknown and research is ongoing, such designs were vital tools for needleworkers, allowing motifs to tile seamle...
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...