Design for Machine-Woven Shawl
1841
Classification
textile designs
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Museum purchase through gift of Mrs. Richard Irvin
Accession Number
1940-88-3-a
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Step into the world of 19th-century textile innovation with this *Design for Machine-Wovenl* from 1841, held in the Smithsonian American Art's collection. Created by an unknown artist, this piece is a testament to the burgeoning American textile industry during the early Industrial Revolution. Acquired through a museum purchase funded by the gift of Mrs. Richard Irvin it falls under the classification of textile designs and is currently the subject of ongoing research, us to ponder its untold stories. In 1841, machine weaving was transforming fashion from elite craftsmanship to mass productio...
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...