Design for Embroidery, Gentleman's Waistcoat Pocket
Classification
embroidery & stitching
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Accession Number
1962-59-2
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
In the opulent world of late 18th-century French fashion, Jean-François Bony's *Design for Embroidery, Gentleman's Waistcoat Pocket* (ca. 1780) captures the exquisite detail that defined aristocratic menswear on the eve of the French Revolution. Bony, a skilled French designer (1754–1825), created this preparatory pattern for the pocket flap of a gentleman's waistcoat—a essential garment in the era's tailored ensembles, often showcasing wealth through lavish decoration. Held in the Smithsonian American Art Museum's embroidery and stitching collection, it reflects the height of textile artistry...